AN AWARD-winning comedy is being staged at Rugby Theatre as part of the town’s Festival of Culture.
Yasmina Reza’s play God of Carnage is set at a polite meeting between two sets of parents to discuss a playground fight involving their children.
When the two couples meet, diplomatic niceties are initially observed, but as things progress and the rum flows, things quickly go downhill.
Director John Dulcamara said: “I saw God of Carnage in Florida a couple of years ago, and I was totally fascinated by it.
“It had me laughing out loud throughout, but I also left the theatre thinking about one of the main themes, that it’s almost impossible to be a good or virtuous person in a world where there’s such malice and mayhem.
“The things going on in the world at the moment seem to underline that.”
Real-life husband and wife Andy and Ruth MacCallum play one couple, while Tom Browning and Rugby Theatre newcomer Felicity Peck play the other in what the director describes as ‘a comedy of manners – without the manners’.
He added: “The men gang up on the women and the spouses switch sides, and we end up with civilised adults acting like rude, petulant children. It’s incredibly clever stuff.
“I’m so happy to have been able to bring this Tony and Olivier Award winning play to our Henry Street stage. We’ve had a terrific time in rehearsals, and I’m sure our Festival of Culture audiences will love it too.”
The show opens for a five performance run from July 4 to 8. Tickets are available at www.rugbytheatre.co.uk or on 01788 541234.
