Lyric life

• THE LYRIC HAMMERSMITH THEATRE’S MAJOR REVIVAL OF YASMINA REZA’S OLIVIER AND TONY AWARD WINNING COMEDY WILL STAR FREEMA AGYEMAN, ARIYON BAKARE, DINITA GOHIL AND MARTIN HUTSON

• FORMER DOCTOR WHO STAR FREEMA AGYEMAN RETURNS TO THE STAGE AFTER STARRING IN SKY TV SERIES DREAMLAND

• GOD OF CARNAGE IS THE NEXT MAJOR MAIN-HOUSE PRODUCTION IN RACHEL O’RIORDAN’S 2023 SEASON. IT FOLLOWS THE WEST END TRANSFER OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST, AND THE SMASH HIT UK PREMIERE OF SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY

• THIS ‘COMEDY OF MANNERS (WITHOUT THE MANNERS)’ PREVIEWS FROM 01 SEPTEMBER WITH PRESS NIGHT ON 06 SEPTEMBER. THE RUN MUST END 30 SEPTEMBER. TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW LYRIC.CO.UK

The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre today announces full casting for the revival of Yasmina Reza’s savagely dark comedy God of Carnage, in a translation by Christopher Hampton, which won both the Tony and Olivier Award for Best Comedy in 2009, as well as picking up Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Actress for Marcia Gay Harden.

Making her Lyric stage debut is Freema Agyeman as Veronique Vallon, best known for her role as the companion Martha Jones in Doctor Who (BBC) as well as Trish in Dreamland (Sky). Also joining Lyric Associate Director Nicholai La Barrie’s production is Ariyon Bakare who previously appeared in BBC hit-series His Dark Materials, playing Alain Reille; Dinita Gohil, recently seen in the Father and the Assassin (National Theatre) takes on the role of Annette Reille; and Martin Hutson, seen in Small Island (National Theatre), plays Michel Vallon.

Nicholai La Barrie, Director, said: “God of Carnage pokes fun at wealth, power and money. It lifts the lid on civility which is immensely funny to watch. I couldn’t be luckier to be joined by some of the UK’s most phenomenal actors, including Freema Agyeman, Ariyon Bakare, Dinita Gohil and Martin Hutson. I can’t wait to see this stellar cast breathe new meaning and relevance into these already iconic roles. From the moment I read this play, I imagined it to be a reflection of the cosmopolitan cities that we live in.

We’re obsessed with the idea of social respectability, good manners and behaving in a civilised way. But what happens when those people who declare themselves as respectable, act in the very opposite way? God of Carnage will feel like sweet revenge for audiences. You’ll recognise these characters, and you’ll revel in their carnage.”

Freema Agyeman, actor playing Veronique Vallon said: “I am beyond thrilled to be returning to the London stage, and where better than the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, with its incredible history and tradition ~ a space where consistently solid, inclusive and high calibre work is created and shared. I’m also happy to be staying in the genre of dark comedy post Dreamland ~ God of Carnage made me gasp and guffaw in equal measure! I look forward to performing in this play alongside the fantastic cast and am very excited to be working with director Nicholai La Barrie whose enthusiasm is infectious!”

God of Carnage is designed is by Lily Arnold who returns to the Lyric following the triumph of A Doll’s House (2019), the lighting design is by Richard Howell, sound design and composition by Asaf Zohar, and casting by Heather Basten CDG.

With her sharp corrosive wit, Reza rips the thin veneer of civility with heart-pounding honesty. God of Carnage is the unmissable darkly funny roller-coaster you won’t want to end.

When 11 year old Ferdinand knocked 11 year old Bruno’s two front teeth out. Their parents meet up to have a civil conversation about the misdemeanours of their children in a suitably calm and rational way… what can go wrong?  As night falls chaos ensues with explosive tantrums, name-calling and tears.