Theatre Royal Bath Productions Presents Yasmina Reza's GOD OF CARNAGE

The 10th anniversary production of Yasmina Reza's award-winning farce God of Carnage comes to Theatre Royal Bath's Main House where it runs until Saturday 15 September, with opening night for press on Wednesday 5 September. Lindsay Posner directs the production, as part of Artistic Director Jonathan Church's second Summer Season at Theatre Royal Bath. Starring much-loved actors from hit television series Elizabeth McGovern (Downton Abbey), Amanda Abbington (Sherlock), Ralf Little (The Royle Family) and Nigel Lindsay (Victoria), the play is a ruthlessly comic study of middle-class parenting.

Originally written in French, God of Carnage was translated by Christopher Hampton in 2008. The production went on to win the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and the Tony Award for Best New Play.

When eleven-year-old Ferdinand hits eleven-year-old Bruno in a playground punch-up and knocks out two of his teeth, the combatants' enlightened parents decide to meet to talk things over civilly. But once the niceties are done with and the drink starts flowing, it is the parents who turn into spoiled brats.

Yasmina Reza has written numerous plays including Olivier and Tony Award winning God of Carnage, 'Art', The Unexpected Man and The Passage of Winter. She has also written novels, Hammerklavier, Desolation, Adam Haberberg, Happy are The Happy and Babylone and the screenplay for Carnage.

Lindsey Posner's career includes positions as Associate Director of Royal Court Theatre, Artistic Director of Royal Court Theatre Upstairs and Deputy Director for main house. Additional credits include Olivier nominated productions of A View from the Bridge (Duke of York's Theatre) and Carousel (Churchill Theatre, UK Tour and Savoy Theatre) as well as The Lie (Menier Chocolate Factory), The Truth (Menier Chocolate Factory, Wyndham's), Hayfever (Theatre Royal Bath/West End) and The Winslow Boy (Roundabout Theatre, New York; Old Vic Theatre). Television credits include Two Oranges and a Mango and The Maitlands.

Amanda Abbington is best known for her roles as Mary Morstan in Sherlock, Miss Mardle in Mr Selfridge and DS Jo Moffat in Cuffs. Theatre credits include Love Me Tonight (Hampstead), The Safari Party (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough/Hampstead), Tin Soldiers (New End/Grace) and Beverly in the recent 40th anniversary production of Abigail's Party.

Nigel Lindsay is an Olivier Award nominated actor. His numerous television credits include the ITV series Victoria, Spooks and White Gold. On film he has appeared in Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa and Four Lions, for which he was nominated for Best British Comedy Performance in Film at the British Comedy Awards. His many stage credits include the title role in Shrek the Musical for which he was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical, Guys and Dolls (West End), Harrogate (Royal Court), A Small Family Business (National Theatre), Broken Glass (Tricycle Theatre) and Awake and Sing (Almeida).

Ralf Little is an actor and writer best known for his roles as Antony in The Royle Family and Jonny in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. His theatre credits include Ugly Lies the Bone (National Theatre) and Dead Funny (Vaudeville Theatre) and he has also appeared in several films including Underdogs and The Waiting Room.

Elizabeth McGovern is well known for her role as Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey, for which she has been nominated for an Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award and Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime for which she received an Academy Award nomination. Her theatre credits include Broadway productions of Time and the Conways, Hamlet and Love Letters. Other film and television credits include Ordinary People, Once Upon a Time in America, The Handmaid's Tale and The Wings of the Dove.

The 2018 Summer Season at Theatre Royal Bath opened in June with Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory's Henry V followed by An Ideal Husband direct from the West End, the UK premiere of Switzerland and the 50th anniversary production of Arthur Miller's The Price. It will also include Terence Rattigan's compelling drama In Praise of Love directed by Jonathan Church (3 October - 2 November).

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