God of Carnage (Lyric Hammersmith)
Closed 2h 0m
God of Carnage (Lyric Hammersmith)
67%
67%
(25 Ratings)
Positive
64%
Mixed
20%
Negative
16%
Members say
Dated, Clever, Absorbing, Great acting, Funny

About the Show

Yasmina Reza's Olivier & Tony Award-winning play about parents discussing a fight between their sons.

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Critic Reviews (14)

The Guardian (UK)
September 8th, 2023

“There is a certain deliciousness in seeing these characters unravel as they hit the gin and shoot their pseudo-polite salvoes. The play’s punches do not land as hard as they might, although there is a clear sense that these self-centred characters have all but lost sight of little Ferdinand and Bruno.”
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The Telegraph (UK)
September 7th, 2023

“A surprisingly strained night, then, which confirms there’s no easy path to box-office salvation: no matter how tried and tested the fare, there’s no such thing as a safe-bet.”
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The Times (UK)
September 7th, 2023

“Everything is too close to the surface to be much fun in Nicholai La Barrie’s production, though. Without a sense of two real relationships at play, all four performers batter the comedy into submission.”
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Theatre Weekly (UK)
September 6th, 2023

this God of Carnage is somewhat saved by strong direction, and whether it’s supposed to be a comedy or not, it certainly does have some very funny scenes. Yasmina Reza’s themes shine through and despite the issues with the characters we can probably all recognise them, this is ultimately an enjoyable revival with a talented cast.
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West End Best Friend
September 7th, 2023

“Something that absolutely needs commending in ‘God of Carnage,’ though, is the incredible set design by Lily Arnold...With skilled direction from Nicholai La Barrie, the actors are able to make use of this motion, moving around the set with ease to showcase every single side of it and in doing so, every single side of the story. And, just like the set is going in circles, so too is the conversation – there is no resolution. But unlike the set, there’s not much revolution either.”
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All That Dazzles (UK)
September 8th, 2023

“After seeing this production of ‘God of Carnage’ at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, maybe I’m persuaded that this truly is the most chaotic ‘Carnage’ of them all – proving that the pen is mightier than the sword, the most bite comes from the venom of Reza’s characters. Despite coming in at 90 minutes without an interval, it moves so fast that you barely realise the time as it reaches its climax as ‘God of Carnage’ lets rip in the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, a true delight for those of us who revel in the depths of a pitch-black dark comedy.”
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Lost in Theatreland (UK)
September 7th, 2023

“ ‘God of Carnage’ is a heavily concept-driven play, with a wonderful set design and talented cast. While at times the plot can feel as though it is moving slowly, overall, this is an interesting watch that reflects the state of our world, leaving the audience with much to reflect on.”
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Time Out London
September 8th, 2023

" ‘God of Carnage’ has had its day as a global phenomenon. But it’s still worth a revival, and it’s hard to imagine that Reza’s nihilistic but – let’s be honest – bang-on observations on human selfishness will ever lose their relevance."
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