Le Dieu du Carnage

Le Dieu du Carnage is a French play by Yasmina Reza (1959- ) [1].

The original text

Performed at the at the Théâtre Antoine, Paris in 2007-2008, and published in Paris by Michel, 2007

Translations and adaptations

Translated into English as God of Carnage by Christopher Hampton (1946-)[2] and performed at the Gielgud Theatre, London in 2008, directed by Matthew Warchus. Published by Faber and Faber, 2008. In its English version the play was awarded the 2008 Olivier award for Best New Comedy in the West End and in 2009 it won three Tony awards (out of a total six nominations) including the award for Best New Play.

Translated into Afrikaans from the original French by Trix Pienaar entitled God van Chaos ("God of Chaos") and Hennie van Greunen adapted it to a South African setting..

Not to be confused with the British play God of Chaos by Phil Porter (2019)

Roman Polanski's award-winning film Carnage[3] (2011) was based on Reza's play, with a script by Polanski and Reza.

Performance history in South Africa

2009: Performed in English as God of Carnage performed at Montecasino Theatre and Theatre on the Bay 2009, directed by Alan Swerdlow, starring Anna-Mart van der Merwe (Annette Raleigh), Louise Saint Claire (Veronique Vallon), Jan Ellis (Alan Raleigh), Michael Richard (Martin Vallon).

2010: Performed in Afrikaans as God van Chaos at the KKNK, directed by Hennie van Greunen with Anna-Mart van der Merwe, Leon Kruger, Johann Nel and Martelize Kolver. Set Design: Leopold Senekal, Jeanne Steenkamp and Koos Marais, costumes by Pedro Kruger. This production was also staged in Bloemfontein.

2010: Performed in Afrikaans as God van Chaos at the Baxter Theatre by The Wordsmith's Theatre Factory, 19 to 30 October. Directed by Hennie van Greunen with Anna-Mart van der Merwe, Johann Nell, Martelize Kolver and Leon Kruger.

2011: Performed in Afrikaans at the Woordfees in Stellenbosch by The Wordsmith's Theatre Factory, as a co-production with KKNK and Innibos, once more directed by Hennie van Greunen with Anna-Mart van der Merwe, Johann Nell, Martelize Kolver and Leon Kruger.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasmina_Reza

https://www.ft.com/content/99b58684-e0d7-11dc-b0d7-0000779fd2ac

https://www.faber.co.uk/9780571221912-yasmina-reza-plays-1.html

https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/477/53340.html

https://www.roekeloos.co.za/teater/god-van-chaos/

https://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=25758

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnage_(2011_film)

Zingi Mkefa. 2009. "Playground of the real world", review aricle in the Sunday Times, 18 October, 2009[4]

"Truth found in Translation", in the Cape Argus, 19 October, 2010[5]

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