God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza is a one act black comedy.

Eleven-year-old Henry refuses to let classmate Benjamin join his gang. Not taking this dismissal lightly, Benjamin arms himself with a stick and knocks out Henry’s two front teeth.

The play begins with Michael and Veronica, parents of young Henry, inviting Alan and Annette, parents of Benjamin, to their home to discuss the horrifying event that occurred on the playground that morning.

With polite niceties wearing thin, the audience watches four very different people try to resolve this matter, convincing each other that it was not the fault of their own son, rather that of the other. With accusations being hurled around the room, the argument heats up even further when evaluating matters of racism, sexism and homophobia. By evening’s end, the gloves are well and truly off, with the adults behaving in a manner that is eerily similar to that which occurred on the playground.

The play is directed by Ruby Abbot and presented by the Ballarat National Theatre in partnership with the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute.

Winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play and 2009 Olivier Award for Best Comedy.