- PRESS RELEASE -
Presented by Theatre Royal Bath Productions, by arrangement with David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers
GOD OF CARNAGE – A NEW PLAY BY YASMINA REZA
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New sharp-edged play God of Carnage comes to Milton Keynes Theatre- 24th – 28th March 2009bringing together a truly amazing cast Richard E Grant,Lia Williams, Roger Allam and Serena Evans.
Translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by Matthew Warchus, God of Carnage played to packed audiences at the Gielgud Theatre in 2008, becoming one of the most successful plays in the history of the West End and isassured to continue its tearaway success when it hits the stage at Milton Keynes.
In a Paris playground, an 11-year-old boy has hit another boy in the face with a stick. Alain and Annette, the culprit’s parents, played by Richard E Grant and Serena Evans, are visiting the apartment of Michel and Véronique, the victim’s parents, played by Lia Williams and Roger Allam, to work out a way in which an apology might be made. As attitudes to politics, work, money, conscience and, crucially, hamsters are revealed, vast crevasses of disagreement open up, not only between the two couples, but between husbands and wives.What happens when two sets of parents meet up to deal with the unruly behaviour of their children? A calm and rational debate between grown-ups about the need to teach kids how to behave properly? Or a hysterical night of name-calling, tantrums and tears before bedtime?
Boys will be boys, but the adults are usually worse – much worse- asthe hot-headed parents with short tempers turn up the heat.
Reza is a phenomenon, with plays translated into 35 languages; the most famous, Art, ran in London for six years. As always with Reza, everything hangs on the casting. She's a writer for the stage not the page: a creator of vessels for actors to fill. Her English translator Christopher Hampton always proves extremely generous with the jokes. The director Matthew Warchus choreographs the escalating violence with superb precision while drawing superlative comic performances from the cast.
Richard E Grant has starred in more than sixty films over the past twenty years. More recently he has confirmed his status as one of the country's favourite actors with appearances in Altman's GosfordPark and Stephen Fry's Bright Young Things.
Winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor, for his role as Captain Terri Denis in a revival of Privates on Parade in 2002 and most recently seen on stage in the West End in 1960s farce Boeing BoeingRoger Allam is known primarily for his stage career although he has also appeared in film, television and radio roles, including Stephen Frears' The Queen and V for Vendetta.
Lia Williams is one of our most highly regarded actresses. Nominated for both Olivier and Tony awards for her performance in David Hare’s Skylight, she has played many leading roles at the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and in the West End.
Serena Evans is best known for the role of Police Sergeant Patricia Dawkins in The Thin Blue Line. She also had a regular role as Sarah Chapman in ITV sitcom The Piglet Files, and appeared in six episodes of The Comic Strip Presents playing various characters. Serena has recently appeared in the role of Mistress Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London.
Thismerciless satire of 21st century parenting will have you rolling in the aislesdon’t miss it. Book your tickets now call 0870 060 6652 or visit
-ENDS-
LISTINGS
Performances: 24th March to 28thMarch 2009
7.30pm (matinees 2.30pm
Tickets:£11-£31
Box Office:0870 060 6652 (bkg fee)
Groups Hotline: 01908 547609
Access Booking:0871 297 5477 (bkg fee)
Online Booking: (bkg fee)
If you have any questions or require any further information please contact:
Becky Martin
Press & Communications Officer
Milton Keynes Theatre
01908 547603