Freema Agyeman to star in 'God of Carnage'; full cast announced

The Lyric Hammersmith's revival of Yasmina Reza's multi-award-winning play, now newly translated by Christopher Hampton, will run from 1-30 September.

The Lyric Hammersmith has set the full cast for its revival of Yasmina Reza's award-winning comedy God of Carnage, in performances from 1-30 September.

Freema Agyeman, known for playing Martha Jones in Doctor Who and Trish in Dreamland, stars as Veronique Vallon. She returns to the London stage after starring in Apologia and now makes her Lyric Hammersmith debut.

The cast also includes Ariyon Bakare (His Dark Materials) as Alain Reille, Dinita Gohil (The Father and the Assassin at the National Theatre) as Annette Reille, and Martin Hutson, (Small Island at the National) as Michel Vallon.

God of Carnage also features scenic design by Lily Arnold, lighting design by Richard Howell, and sound design and composition by Asaf Zohar.

Nicholai La Barrie directs God of Carnage, which won Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Play, along with the Pulitzer Prize. Christopher Hampton newly translates Reza's story about two sets of parents who meet after one couple's child hits the other one on the playground. What begins as a civil conversation about the incident devolves into chaos and cruelty.

"We’re obsessed with the idea of social respectability, good manners and behaving in a civilised way," La Barrie said in a statement. "But what happens when those people who declare themselves as respectable, act in the very opposite way? God of Carnage will feel like sweet revenge for audiences. You’ll recognise these characters, and you’ll revel in their carnage."

Book God of Carnage tickets now.

Photo credit: Freema Agyeman, Ariyon Bakare, Dinita Gohil, and Martin Hutson. (Photos courtesy of production; Agyeman photo by Joseph Sinclair; Gohil photo by Phil Sharp)