CARNAGE

“CARNAGE”
by Makis Semertzidis

The human soul often remains bound—by psychological trauma, societal expectations, fear of truth and  of one’s real self. It feels as if you are watching life through an indistinct, rigid, transparent wall, longing in vain to tear down what keeps you at a distance, while others live a life you cannot reach.

What is the first act of violence? What are the stages of this evolving brutality that shape the formation of a young person? The perception of violence takes on different dimensions. It is not only physical but also existential—where the refusal to mature, the suppression of identity, and unhealed wounds shape life as decisively as fate itself.

In this play, we explore the trapped self—Sebastian, an eternal child in a man’s body, and Violet, rewriting reality to maintain control. These two, almost archetypal figures, are transformed when a new force disrupts their fragile balance. Each character is imprisoned, confined by societal barriers and personal ghosts, seeking refuge in fantasy, only to discover that illusion is both sanctuary and trap.