Discworld Monthly Issue 247 November 2017
Table of Contents:
1. Editorial
2. News
2.1 New Discworld Monthly Merchandise Don't Forget!
2.2 Merchandise Artists required
2.3 Good Omens TV Series
2.4 Convention News
2.5 Terry Pratchett: HisWorld Exhibition News
2.6 Sir Terry Pratchett is officially a Great Westerner!
2.7 Audition News
2.8 Troll Bridge News
3. Book Release News
3.1 English Releases
3.2 Other language releases
4. October/ November Events
5. Future Events
5.1 December 2017
5.2 January 2018
5.3 February 2018
5.4 Timey Wimey Events
6. Recurring Monthly Fan Meetings
7. Readers' Letters
8. Disc Trivia
9. Review of Lords and Ladies - Brisbane Arts Centre
10. Review of Dodger - Birmingham
11. Irish Discworld Convention
12. Review of Mort - Twyford
13. Father Christmas's Fake Beard Competition
14. Terry Pratchett: HisWorld Competition- Result
15. Discworld Ale Prize Draw Result !
16. The End
1. Editorial
Welcome to issue 247 We have lots of news, including stuff from a couple of convention organisers and a sniff of an end for a certain long awaited film. Of course Good Omens keeps throwing morsels of what is to come at us all which makes us very excited for the future.
We also have had a new collection of stories in Father Christmas's Fake beard to read which we failed to get done this month [review next month we promise] and another four of the Discworld Collector's Library editions to fill our shelves with.
Discworld Ales have put out a glorious Book style gift box of the scrummy L-space Voyager ales and the Discworld Emporium have also produced a similarly disguised box for the new Unseen University jigsaw. Reviews of both will appear next month.
Discworld Monthly is a fan-run volunteer organisation that is partially funded by online sales of our fully licensed and authorised products. Please take a look at our range of pin badges, keyrings, fridge magnets, car "cling" stickers, mugs and mouse mats at: Discworld Monthly Shop
All profits are used to pay for prizes, postage, travel expenses, web site fees, domain renewals and various sundry costs that we have to cover to keep everything going. Without your ongoing support and sales of Discworld Monthly items we would not be able to continue to produce the newsletter.
You can also if you so wish donate directly to the Discworld Monthly paypal account info@discworldmonthly.co.uk
Want to ensure you get all the latest news direct from Discworld Monthly between issues? Then visit the Discworld Monthly Facebook page and hit the "Like" button. The page is an announcement-only page and is always the first place we post new information.
Discworld Monthly Facebook Page
We include all our back issues on our website at discworldmonthly.co.uk where you can also find Terry Pratchett quotes, a full bibliography and links to articles we have written over the years.
If you visit a play or a talk and would like to let the world know about it, please feel free to email your review to info@discworldmonthly.co.uk and we will consider it for publication.
Also if you have written an article that you think we might want to include in the newsletter please feel free to email us at the address below. We will of course give credit for anything we use.
Please let us have any submissions for issue 248 of Discworld Monthly BEFORE 23rd November 2017.
Jason Rincewind Anthony-Rowlands (Editor and Wizzard) info@discworldmonthly.co.uk
Rachel Anthony-Rowlands (Writer, Sub Editor and Wench) rachel@discworldmonthly.co.uk
William Barnett (NHS Correspondent)
Richard Massey (Skype Mangler)
2. News
2.1 New Discworld Monthly Merchandise Don't Forget!
Hogswatch is coming, the goose is getting fat, please put a penny in Discworld Monthly's hat, if you haven't got a penny, then a few quid will do, if you send us enough money then it's a Hogfather mug for you!
We have an awesome new mug joining the ranks. This one is inspired by the Band with Rocks in from Soul Music. It will be available for sale from Thursday 9th November so do check out the shop link to get yours.
Don't forget we also have a wide range of differing mugs and all our mugs still come with free a tea, coffee or hot chocolate sachet.
So check out the shop at Discworld Monthly Shop
Please note: Dishwashers and our mugs are not friends and therefore it's not a good idea to force that issue, you may end with an unhappy mug. You will also have a very unhappy mug if you try to wash it in the tumble drier which is what I originally typed here. On another note, our badges, keyrings and fridge magnets are not friends with the washing machine either, I guess you can work out why [this is from bitter experience - Ed]
2.2 Merchandise Artists required
We are forever looking for artists to produce artwork for our website and our merchandise. I would say we can pay you lots of money but we are in the "work for free" department as we too work for nothing. What we can offer is a pair of mugs and a set of badges/magnets/keyrings to anyone who produces some scribblings that end up on an item that we then sell.
Whilst we would love to pay everyone who makes Discworld Monthly great, please appreciate that our merchandise doesn't make enough pennies to cover the website and other costs involved in producing this free publication which goes out to a huge amount of Discworld fans worldwide.
So if you are a bit of a whiz with the old fashioned art of producing artwork and are happy to work for a mug or two, do get it in touch with us at rachel@discworldmonthly.co.uk
2.3 Good Omens TV Series
We've all been wondering who will be cast as Agnes Nutter and earlier this week it was finally revealed. For us Josie Lawrence is the perfect choice for Agnes and we can't wait to see her in action. Josie previously played Agnes in the BBC radio adaptation of Good Omens.
There has been a bit of a lull in images from the hands of Neil Gaiman but we are sure a few more will sneak out soon.
Neil Gaiman's Twitter and Instagram accounts: (@neilhimself and instagram.com)
The Cast (known so far):
Michael Sheen - Aziraphale
David Tennant - Crowley
Josie Lawrence - Agnes Nutter
Miranda Richardson - Madame Tracy
Michael McKean - Shadwell
Jack Whitehall - Newton Pulsifer
Adria Arjona - Anathema
Sam Taylor Buck - Adam Young
Amma Ris as Pepper, Ilan Galkoff as Brian
Alfie Taylor as Wensleydale
Daniel Mays - Arthur Young
Sian Brooke - Deidre Young
Nina Sosanya - Sister Mary Loquacious
Jasmine Hyde - Sister Grace
Jill Winternitz - Harriet Dowling
Ariyon Bakare - Duke of Hell Ligur
Ned Dennehy - Duke of Hell Hastur
Brice Bexter - Secret Service Agent
Sophie Juge - French Agent
Georg Nikoloff - Russian Agent
2.4 Convention News
CABBAGECON 5 - Be a Barbarian hero !
Dates: 20th - 21st October 2018
Location: Carlton President Hotel, Floraweg 28, 3542 DX Utrecht
Tickets: Weekend - Adult 65 Euros, Child 35 Euros, Student 50 Euros.
Single day tickets are available via their website.
To purchase tickets and for more information head over to:
or the Facebook event page : facebook.com
The UK DWCon 2018 committee have been hard at work sorting all the room allocations for attendees. They have now sent out all room allocations and there is a waiting list in place for those who didn't get a room. The Ramada is only just down the road and may well be a perfect option for those of you who still need a place to rest your heads.
2.5 Terry Pratchett: HisWorld Exhibition News
There are lots of mini events taking place at Salisbury museum to tie in with the exhibition.
The main one coming up is the Book Launch event of Terry Pratchett's Discworld Imaginarium on Saturday 25th November 1pm-4pm at the museum. This event is free but you won't get access to the exhibition. Paul Kidby will be in attendance signing copies for those who wish to purchase one.
If you want to know what other events are going on there, head over to their Facebook events listings at facebook.com
2.6 Sir Terry Pratchett is officially a Great Westerner!
Written by Rachel Anthony-Rowlands
Sir Terry Pratchett has been named one of the 100 Great Westerners by Great Western Railway.
The 100 Great Westerners is about celebrating what makes the region and communities we live and work in great - its people. The communities that have grown around the great iconic Great Western network have been shaped by so many inspirational individuals and organisations.
The people on the list of 100 Great Westerners are a host of fantastic people who were nominated by the public and the readers of Trinity Mirror's titles across the south west of the UK. The list contains many greats such as Agatha Christie, Dylan Thomas, J K Rowling, Enid Blyton, Tommy Cooper, Tom Jones, Max Boyce, Diana Dors, Michael Bond and Banksy.
Sir Terry Pratchett was listed at number 44.
This year marks another milestone for GWR with the launch of the Intercity Express trains. They are the next generation of intercity travel boasting more seats, quicker journeys and an improved travelling experience.
Over the next couple of years GWR will be naming these trains after 50 of the most inspiring Great Westerners named on the list.
Each Inspirer will give each train its own identity - different not only from others in the fleet, but making them icons for the railway and the region they serve. Each name will be accompanied by a commemorative coin, each individually designed to complement the named Great Westerner.
The first of the trains was named Queen Elizabeth II when the Queen officially launched the fleet earlier this year.
We can only hope that one of these trains get the honour of being named after our beloved author Sir Terry Pratchett. (Secretly we would rather it was called the Iron Girder).
We will of course let you know if that occurs.
[We did ask GWR if a train would be named after Sir Terry and was told that "There will be an official announcement" - Rachel]
2.7 Audition News
[NEW] UK
Ifield Barn Arts Centre are holding auditions for their March production of Wyrd Sisters.
They require everybody and anybody for all parts.
The auditions will be held on Monday 11th December and Monday 18th December at 8pm at Ifield Barn Theatre, Ifield Street, Ifield, RH11 0NN
You must be available for the performances on the 7th -10th March 2018. (including Saturday matinee).
If you are interested, please give Janine Robins a ring on 07747 662008
2.8 Troll Bridge News
News has come out of Snowgum Films HQ.
All of Beryl's shots and The Horse have been finished!!!
It's so close to being completely finished that we can almost smell the ink on the Blu Ray covers. Almost.
We've been hoping for an Almost for a long time.
Soon.......
Real soon....
3. Book Release News
3.1 English Releases
The ongoing saga of the new Discworld series paperbacks with introductions by various authors continues a bit longer.
We first reported that these were coming out back in April 2016, then the release date got pushed back to April 2017 then to October 2017. Then they got scrubbed off the listings again.
We feel for the authors who took time out to write their introductions and for the artists who did cover artwork for them.
It appears these paperbacks may never see the light of day. If they ping up again on our system, we will let you know here.
[I have an image of a possible cover for Mort, it is quite different and tbh quite cool. It's not for public viewing though unfortunately - Rachel]
New Book Releases
Some new pings on the map.
It appears we are going to get new paperbacks of The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents and The Johnny Maxwell series will be getting a new look set of covers too. From the advance "Coming Soon" covers we can safely presume that these cover will match in with The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner. Father Christmas's Fake Beard and the Laura Ellen Anderson Tiffany Aching covers.
First up will be Only You Can Save Mankind on the 22nd February 2018
Pre-order :
Amazon
Book Depository
Book Depository Affiliate Link
Followed by The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents on the 26th April 2018
Pre-Order :
Amazon
Book Depository
Book Depository Affiliate Link
Johnny and the Dead will be published on the 28th June 2018
Pre-Order :
Amazon
Book Depository
Book Depository Affiliate Link
We currently don't have a date for Johnny and the Bomb but we expect it to be in August going on the publishing pattern shown above. As soon as we have a date, we will let you know.
Here's the reminders about what else is due out shortly.
Father Christmas's Fake Beard standard edition has been published and the slipcase edition will be out on the 4th November 2017. Both are published by Doubleday Childrens.
The Paperback edition currently has the 13th July 2018 pencilled next to it but that may well change.
Slipcased collector's edition features fourteen festive short stories with energetic and humorous full colour illustrations by Mark Beech.- R.R.P. 25GBP
ISBN-10: 085753551X
ISBN-13: 9780857535511
To pre-order through our Amazon Affiliate Links
To pre-order through our Book Depository Affiliate Link (On the 24/08/17, it is 22.37GBP including worldwide shipping)
Book Depository Affiliate Link
Terry Pratchetts Discworld Imaginarium by Paul Kidby has formally been announced.
There will be three versions of this book: a Standard hardback, a Special edition and a Deluxe Special limited edition.
It's being published by Gollancz/Orion.
The release date for the Standard and Special editions is the 23rd November 2017.
There is no official release date for the Deluxe Special lImited edition as yet.
Paul Kidby has collected the very best of his Discworld illustrations in this definitive volume, including 40 pieces never before seen, 30 pieces that have only appeared in foreign editions, limited editions and BCA editions, and 17 book cover illustrations since 2004 that have never been seen without cover text. If Terry Pratchett's pen gave his characters' life, Paul Kidby's brush allowed them to live it.
The standard edition will be a Hardcover book with 272 pages with a RRP of 35.00GBP
ISBN-10: 1473223377
ISBN-13: 978-1473223370
To pre-order from our affiliate link at the Book Depository (On the 24/08/17 it was only 31.32GBP including worldwide shipping)
Book Depository Affiliate Link
To pre-order from our affiliate link with Amazon UK
The Special edition will also be a hardcover book with 272 pages and a R.R.P. of 75GBP
This Special Edition features an alternative cover design which is a coloured version of the standard edition cover. It has a specially designed slipcase, metallic page edgings and marker ribbon and every copy will be signed by Paul Kidby.
ISBN-10: 1473223490
ISBN-13: 9781473223493
To pre-order from our affiliate link at the Book Depository (On the 24/08.17 it was only 67.12GBP including worldwide shipping)
Book Depository Affiliate Link
To pre-order from our affiliate link with Amazon UK
The Deluxe Special limited edition will only be available from discworld.com and paulkidby.com and will be limited to 1,250 copies with a R.R.P. of 100GBP
It features an alternative cover, box design and has a signature page with a new piece of artwork exclusively produced for this version. The cover features a drawing of a Bee on a dark blue background.
Every copy will be signed and numbered by Paul Kidby
To pre-order yours head to either:
or
Occasionally we find out about a literary book about Terry. Not written by Terry, they are usually somebody trying to put on everyone their opinion of why Terry wrote the way he did, or it's someone trying to work out what Terry was trying to tell us through his writing. We have nothing against them, but they really are an educational look at Terry's works.
Terry Pratchett's Narrative Worlds : From Giant Turtles to Small Gods - Critical approaches to Children's Literature Edited by Marion Rana is due out on the 27th Jan 2018 at a R.R.P. 66.99GBP in Hardback
"This book highlights the multi-dimensionality of the work of British fantasy writer and Discworld creator Terry Pratchett. Taking into account content, political commentary, and literary technique, it explores the impact of Pratchett's work on fantasy writing and genre conventions.
With chapters on gender, multiculturalism, secularism, education, and relativism, Section One focuses on different characters' situatedness within Pratchett's novels and what this may tell us about the direction of his social, religious and political criticism.
Section Two discusses the aesthetic form that this criticism takes, and analyses the post- and meta-modern aspects of Pratchett's writing, his use of humour, and genre adaptations and deconstructions.
This is the ideal collection for any literary and cultural studies scholar, researcher or student interested in fantasy and popular culture in general, and in Terry Pratchett in particular."
ISBN-10: 3319672975
ISBN-13: 9783319672977
To pre-order through our Book Depository affiliate link, (On the 24/08/17 it is available at 59.95GBP including worldwide shipping)
Book Depository Affiliate Link
To Pre-order through our Amazon Affiliate Link
3.2 Other language releases
Vollsthandiger und unentbehrlicher Atlas der Scheibenwelt is due out on the 13th Nov 2017 at a R.R.P 22.99GBP (German translation of Discworld atlas)
ISBN-10: 3442314771
ISBN-13: 9783442314775
To pre-order through our Book Depository affiliate link, (On the 24/08/17 it is available at 20.57GBP including worldwide shipping)
Book Depository Affiliate Link
Der Lange Kosmos : Lange Erde 5 - Roman- Paperback is due out on the 13th November 2017 at a R.R.P. 16.54GBP (German Translation of The Long Cosmos)
ISBN-10: 3442205379
ISBN-13: 9783442205370
To pre-order through our Book Depository affiliate link, (On the 24/08/17 it is available at 14.80GBP including worldwide shipping)
Book Depository Affiliate Link
Ernsthaft lustig : Die besten Terry-Pratchett-Zitate der Welt - Hardback is due out on the 1st December 2017 at a R.R.P. 7.36GBP ( German translation of Seriously Funny: the endlessly quotable Terry Pratchett)
ISBN-10: 3492704514
ISBN-13: 9783492704519
To pre-order through our Book Depository affiliate link, (On the 24/08/17 it is available at 6.58GBP including worldwide shipping)
Book Depository Affiliate Link
Die Farben der Magie . Eric : Zwei Romane in einem Band - Paperback is due out on the 12th Jan 2018 R.R.P. 11.04GBP (German Omnibus of The Colour of Magic and Eric)
ISBN-10: 3492280269
ISBN-13: 9783492280266
To pre-order through our Book Depository affiliate link, (On the 24/08/17 it is available at 9.87GBP including worldwide shipping)
Book Depository Affiliate Link
De herderskroon: De allerlaatste Schijfwereld-roman - Paperback is due out on the 15th Jan 2018 at a R.R.P. of 18.56GBP ( Dutch/Flemish translation of
ISBN-10: 9022579972
ISBN-13: 9789022579978
To pre-order through our Book Depository affiliate link, (On the 24/08/17 it is available at 16.60GBP including worldwide shipping)
Book Depository Affiliate Link
Helle Barden : Ein Scheibenwelt-Roman - Paperback is due out on the 19th Feb 2018 at a R.R.P. 9.20GBP (German translation of Men At Arms)
ISBN10 3442486874
ISBN13 9783442486878
To pre-order through our Book Depository affiliate link, (On the 24/08/17 it is available at 8.23GBP including worldwide shipping)
Book Depository Affiliate Link
4. October/ November Events
Whilst we would love to get to every event and play to write reviews and articles about them, we just don't have enough time, petrol and a wide enough spread of friends to borrow the couch for the night. But you, our wonderful readers do have the time, petrol and often don't need the couches as the event or play is on your doorstep!
We don't have English degrees here and you don't need one either to write something for Discworld Monthly! So get typing and every submission that we use will get a I heart Discworld Monthly window sticker (Please include your address to receive one)
Ps. If you know of a play or event that we don't know about (shock horror), email us. We like the surprise!
All submissions should be emailed to info@discworldmonthly.co.uk or rachel@discworldmonthly.co.uk
Don't forget to visit Pratchett Stage Productions for our most up-to-date list of stage productions.
[UK] Terry Pratchett: HisWorld - a new major Terry Pratchett Exhibition will take place at The Salisbury Museum from 16th Sept 2017 to 13 Jan 2018.
Pictures of various items that will be on display at the exhibition have been appearing on Salisbury Museum's social media feeds. Some items have been made especially for the exhibition. The pratchetthisworld.com website is now full of information and images for your perusal.
The Josh Kirby estate recently announced that the original artwork for Reaper Man will also be on view at the exhibition. It is a rare opportunity to see a Josh Kirby original in the UK as the last time was back in 2007.
Day Ticket Prices are as follows -
Standard day ticket - Adult 7.50GBP Child 3.60GBP Family (2 adults +up to 4 children) 18.50GBP Under 5's Free
It is strongly advised that you buy your tickets in advance from the ticket website.
Salisbury Museum Website - Pratchett: HisWorld
[UK] Rhyl Liberty Players presents Wyrd Sisters as adapted by Stephen Briggs
Location: The Rhyl Little Theatre Vale Road Rhyl LL18 2BS
Dates: Wednesday 25th to Saturday 28th October 2017
Website: libertyplayers.co.uk
Box Office: 01745 342229
[UK - POSTPONED] CADS presents Men At Arms as adapted by Stephen Briggs
Location: St Peter's Church Hall, Hatchett Lane, Cranbourne SL4 2EG
Dates: (Thursday 26th October - Sat 28th October) - POSTPONED UNTIL 2018
[SOUTH AFRICA] DISCWORLD DAY at The Moors Castle, Gauteng, South Africa
Location: The Moors Castle, 638 Larsens Road, 1739 Muldersdrift, Gauteng, South Africa
Date: 4th November 2017
LIMITED NO OF TICKETS available from Quicket - Discworld Day - South Africa
Tickets: Online - R60.00 At the Gate - R80.00 Kids under 12 FREE
Dogs and unruly luggages to be kept on leashes at all times.
To find out more visit their Facebook Event page
[NEW: HUNGARY] 2nd Black Hat Day in the Library
(Location: Hungary, Csorba Gyozo Konyvtar, Pecs, Universitas u. 2/ A, Tudaskozpont, Konferenciaterem)
Date: Fri 10th November
Time: 17:00 - 19:00
Free event, no tickets - just come and enjoy!
Activities
Some words about Terry Pratchett
Discworld trivia
- Which book is it? (Bring your favourite book and read a quotation...)
- Are you sure? (multiple-choice questions)
- Who is it? (recognise first the character)
Black Morris
THUD - the board game - try it!
[USA, ILLINOIS] The Outer Edge Book Discussion
In November they will discussing Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
Location: The Outer Edge, Chatham Area Public Library, Chatham, Illinois 62629
Date: 20th November 2017
Time: 18:00-19:30 CST
[UK] Studio Theatre Club present Raising Steam as adapted by Stephen Briggs. This has been postponed until 2018/19
[UK] Thalian Theatre Group presents The Truth as Adapted by Stephen Briggs
Location: Mirren Studio, The Townsgate Theatre, St Martin's Square, Basildon, Essex, SS14 1DL
Dates : 9th - 11th November 2017
Time : starts at 8pm
Tickets 11GBP Adult, 9 GBP Concessions
Box Office : 01268 465 465
Website : towngatetheatre.co.uk
[AUSTRALIA] Good Omens the Musical - a readthrough of the script and songs.
Squabbalogic Presents a Development Reading of An Apocalyptically Atypical New Musical
Based on the Novel by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
Good Omens The Musical has been in development for some time. Before they head into the rehearsal room, they are presenting this unique opportunity for an audience to participate in an often-mysterious process by performing a reading of the current draft of the script and songs for this exciting new piece.
Warning: this performance contains haze and adult themes. Recommended for ages 15+
Location: York Theatre, Seymour Centre, Cnr Cleveland Street and City Road, Chippendale, Sydney, NSW Australia.
Date: Mon 13th November 2017
Time: 6:30pm
Duration: 120 mins (including interval)
Tickets: 38AUD
Transaction fees apply: By phone 6AUD Online 4.50AUD
Box Office: 02 9351 7940
Online Booking: boxoffice.seymourcentre.com
Website: seymourcentre.com
[AUSTRALIA] Roleystone theatre presents Mort as adapted by Stephen Briggs
Location: Roleystone Theatre, 587 Brookton Hwy, Roleystone, Western Australia, Australia 6111
Dates: 24th, 25th and 29th Nov then 1st and 2nd Dec 2017
Tickets: 20AUD Adults, 15AUD Under 18's and Pensioners.
Facebook: facebook.com
5. Future Events
5.1 December 2017
[NEW: USA] Arizona, USA
The Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society sponsors a monthly book & media social. We gather at 7PM on the third Tuesday of every month at Denny's (9030 North Black Canyon Highway, Phoenix AZ) to chat about a preselected science fiction or fantasy book (or other media). Come join unlike-minded readers who enjoy a fine tale.
This month the book they are discussing is the Hogfather.
[UK] Youth Theatre Company presents Lords and Ladies as adapted by Irana Brown
Location:Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, Norwich NR2 1RL
Dates: Thurs 14th Dec - Sat 16th Dec (Audio Described performance on the Sat)
Times: Performance starts at 7:30pm
Tickets: 8.50GBP-10GBP
Website: secure.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
5.2 January 2018
[UK] Progress Theatre presents Maskerade as adapted by Stephen Briggs
Location: Progress Theatre, The Mount, Reading RG1 5HL
Dates: Thurs 18th Jan 2018 - Sat 27th Jan 2018 (Saturday Matinees included)
Website: progresstheatre.co.uk
5.3 February 2018
[USA] Gainesville Theatre Alliance presents Monstrous Regiment as adapted by Stephen Briggs.
Location: UNG-Gainesville's Ed Cabell Theatre, 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood, GA 30566
Dates: Fri 16th Feb - Sat 24th Feb 2018
Time: 7:30pm on the 16th, 18th and 20th - 24th, with matinees at 2:30pm on Sat 17th and Sat 24th
Tickets: 18-20 USD Adults, 16-18USD Seniors and 12-14USD Students
Website: blog.ung.edu
Box Office: 678 717 3624.
Special Events at this production
FREE Stage Tour (a peek behind the scenes!)
1st Feb 2018 at 6:00pm
Preview Performance: Ticket is 10USD (Preview tickets go on sale 29th Jan 2018)
Thursday 15th Feb 2018 at 7:30pm
FREE Opening Night Reception: In the lobby following the performance with the cast and crew, catered by ACE Catering
Friday 16th Feb 2018
Talk Back with Cast & Crew: a lively (and free) Q&A session following the performance on Tuesday 20th Feb 2018
[UK] We are Theatre presents Maskerade as adapted by Stephen Briggs.
Location: The Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PR
Dates: Mon 26th Feb - Wed 28th Feb 2018
Times: 7:30pm
Tickets: 10GBP
Website: wearetheatre.co.uk
Box Office: 07521364107
5.4 Timey Wimey Events
These Events are at least a few months away on the calendar, but if you have a delorean or a hot tub time machine you may be able to hop into the future and bring back a review for us now! If you don't have access to either then you should be able to purchase tickets and travel forward in time the old fashioned way - one day at a time.
[UK] The Carlton Players presents Mort as adapted by Stephen Briggs
Location : The Little Theatre, Grange Road West, Birkenhead, United Kingdom, CH41 4BY
Dates: 24 April 2018 - 28 April 2018
Time: Doors Open at 7pm. Show Starts at 7.30pm
Tickets: 8GBP Adults, U16's/Students 6GBP
Website: carltonlittletheatre.co.uk
Box Office: 0151 647 6593
Box Office Website: ticketsource.co.uk
Facebook Event: facebook.com
[NEW:UK] The Chorley Little Theatre presents Guards! Guards! as adapted by Stephen Briggs
Location: Chorley Little Theatre, Dole Lane, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 2RL
Dates: Monday 23 April - Saturday 28 April
Times: 7:30pm
Tickets: Mon-Wed 8GBP, Thu-Sat 10GBP
Website: chorleylittletheatre.com
Box Office: 01257 264362
[NEW: UK] Tilt Theatre - City College Plymouth Performing Arts presents Guards! Guards!
Location: Tilt Theatre, City College Plymouth, PL1 5QG
Dates: 16th-18th May 2018
Facebook Event : facebook.com
[UPDATED :Dutch Discworld Convention]
CABBAGECON 5 - Be a Barbarian hero !
Dates 20th - 21st October 2018
Location: Carlton President Hotel, Floraweg 28, 3542 DX Utrecht
Tickets : Weekend - Adult 65 Euros Child 35 Euros Student 50 Euros.
Single day tickets are available on their website.
To buy tickets and for more information head over to dutchdwcon.nl
Facebook event page: facebook.com
[UK Discworld Convention]
The location and date of 2018 Discworld Convention in the UK has been announced.
It will be at the Chesford Grange Hotel on the weekend of 3rd - 6th August 2018.
Memberships have been released and have SOLD OUT.
Don't fret though, ConCom are now operating a waiting list for those who wish to have a chance of attending.
To find out more visit 2018.dwcon.org
[NEW: Australia] The Brisbane Arts Centre presents Men At Arms as adapted by Stephen Briggs
Location : Brisbane Arts Centre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Petrie Terrace QLD 4000
Dates: Thursday-Sundays from the 6th October - 3rd November 2018
Times: Thursdays 7.30pm, Fridays and Saturdays 8pm, Sundays 6.30pm
Tickets: Will be available to buy as of the 1st November 2017
Website: artstheatre.com.au
[Australian Convention] Nullus Anxietas VII in Melbourne 2019
Will be held from the 12th to 14th April 2019 and is authorised by Ankh Morpork Post Office.
Currently you can guarantee your place by purchasing a supporting membership now at 40AUD from: Australian Convention 2019 Booking
[Scheibenwelt Convention]
Scheibenwelt Convention have announced that the next German Discworld Convention will take place from the 3rd to the 6th of October 2019 at Castle Ludwigstein.
The theme will be Hogswatch.
Tickets are not on sale as yet but do visit their website to find out more information .
[NEW: IDWCon] The Irish committee has confirmed that the next Irish Discworld Convention will happen in 2019!
More info will come soonish.
[NADWCON]
It's happening in 2019. That's all we know. We'll update this when we get more news.
6. Recurring Monthly Fan Meetings
[UK] The Broken Drummers meet at The Monkey Puzzle, Paddington, London, W2 1JQ, England at 7pm. For more information contact Helen Nicholls on helelnicholls@gmail.com
Unless otherwise stated the Drummers meet on the first Monday of each month.
The Drummers are now holding irregular weekend meet-ups in addition to their regular Mondays. Dates are posted on their Facebook page and sent out via their mailing list.
The Drummers are always happy to welcome new visitors. You can find out more at: brokendrummers.org or Broken Dummers Facebook Page
[Adelaide, Australia] The City of Small Gods is a group for fans in Adelaide and South Australia.
They have regular monthly dinner and games nights, longer games days, plus play outings, craft-y workshops, and fun social activities throughout the year. For more info and to join their mailing list, visit: cityofsmallgods.org.au
[Brisbane, Australia] The Pratchett Partisans meet monthly at either Brisbane or Indooroopilly to eat, drink and chat about all things Pratchett. For more info about their next meetup, check out: The Pratchett Partisans Facebook Group
[Melbourne, Australia] The Victorian Discworld Klatch is a social group for fans of Discworld and Terry Pratchett. We meet monthly for fun activities and to talk all things Pratchetty. Information on our current event can be found on Victorian Discworld Klatch Facebook Group or email victoriandiscworldklatch@gmail.com
[Perth, Australia] The Treacle Mining Corporation meetup to celebrate the works of Sir Terry Pratchett, and welcome any fans of science fiction and fantasy.
Join them for their monthly discussion of Discworld, Terry Pratchett and all things sci-fi and fantasy. They meet the first Monday of each month, subject to holidays, and all are welcome.
The group meets up at Carpe Cafe, 526 Murray Street, Perth, WA. Meeting at a cafe means they are under-18 friendly!
For details follow them on Twitter @TreacleMiningCo, Instagram treacle_mining_corporation, and Facebook Treacle Mining Corporation Facebook Group
Otherwise message Alexandra Ware directly at alexandra.ware@gmail.com
Unless otherwise stated the group meets up on the first Monday of each month.
[Sydney, Australia] Sydney Drummers normally meet on the first Monday of every month.
Meeting location: 3 Wise Monkeys, 555 George Street, Sydney, 2000 from 6:30pm
For more information contact Sue (AKA Granny Weatherwax) on kenworthys@yahoo.co.uk
[Sydney, Australia] Western Drummers (western suburbs of Sydney NSW Australia) meet 6pm on the third Tuesday of the month at the Nepean Rowing Club for dinner chat and games.
Western Drummers Facebook Group
* Calling USA / Canadian Fans *
Appreciate Discworld and Sir Terry Pratchett? Want to chat and gather with other Discworld fans in the US and Canada? Regional Discworld fan Facebook groups are linked below!
Holy Wood Dreams (covers WA, OR, CA, NV, AZ, NM, and HI):
Holy Wood Dreams Facebook Page
Central US Discworld Fans (covers ID, MT, WY, ND, SD, NE, UT, CO, KS, OK, and TX):
Central US Discworld Fans Facebook Group
Midwest Discworld Fans (covers IL, IN, WI, MI, KY, MN, IA, and MO):
Midwest Discworld Fans Facebook Group
Southeast US Pratchett Fans (covers AR, LA, TN, MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, and FL):
Southeast US Pratchett Fans Facebook Group
Mid-Atlantic Discworld Fans (covers PA, OH, WV, VA, Washington DC, and MD):
Mid-Atlantic Discworld Fans Facebook Group
New England Discworld Fans (covers DE, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, and ME):
New England Discworld Fans Facebook Group
Canadian Discworld Fans (covers Canada and Alaska):
Canadian Discworld Fans Facebook Group
If you are in a border state or a province between two groups, feel free to join both groups.
[Australia] Drumknott's Irregulars is a newly established Terry Pratchett social group based in Canberra. The group is open to anyone and their events are not heavily themed.
Facebook: Drumknott's Irregulars Facebook Group
Google Groups: Drumknott's Irregulars Google Group
7. Readers' Letters
If you have any letters or comments, please email them to info@discworldmonthly.co.uk
We assume any correspondence is eligible for use in the newsletter unless otherwise stated, including the sender's email address. We may edit your letters whilst riding The Smiler at Alton Towers and eating Carrot Cake.
It is vitally important that you don't pass off other people's work as your own. If you use information from other resources please let us know so we can give proper credit.
The best letter each month will get a I "Heart" Discworld Monthly Car sticker so get emailing!
The best letter will get chosen by a member of the team who is not living in Swansea after publication. [Richard Massey might actually get to do the job he offered to do 20 years ago]
From: "Steven Dean" thewizardsknob@icloud.com
I have been a book dealer at every UK DWCon since 1998 but have decided not to attend any future ones. To that end I have a large stock of UK. Hardbacks that I'd like to sell cheap to clear my stock. They will be priced from 3GB{ plus postage. If anyone would like a list of what's available please drop me a message at thewizardsknob@icloud.com
From: "David Rickson" davidrickson@yahoo.co.uk
I hope you will be able to put this into a future edition of Discworld Monthly which, I have to say, is a highly professional, informative and enjoyable monthly read. The former is in no way a grovel, by the way, you`d know if it was a grovel; I enter the realms of sickly.
I`m seventy and three quarters and have arrived thus far with virtually all my faculties and all my own hair. This is mainly due to the safety net of the Discworld. I am in no way a fan of Roundworld.
Sir Terry Pratchett never met me. He knew nothing of me. But he let me deep into his imagination.
Throughout a long illness he kept my mind busy while my body got on with the tedious job of carrying out repairs.
He presented an elderly lady who lay in a hospital bed next to my step-daughter with an escape route from the misery of isolation from her family. In a rural area such as she lived in her family were unable to visit very often. I gave her a well-used copy of "The Light Fantastic" which resulted in my step-daughter having to call the nurse as she mistook the old lady`s hysterics for breathing difficulties.
The lady attempted to give the book back but I told her to keep it and think of it as the beginning of a long and wonderful journey into the kaleidoscopic mind of a man who could see clearly what others were only dimly aware of. She said that, upon leaving hospital, she would be going to Waterstones to clear the Terry Pratchett section. She intended to keep one of each title for herself and distribute the rest among her friends and family. She was hooked. She was, obviously, also quite wealthy. I eventually replaced my original copy.
I have discovered that Sir Terry has offered others a doorway to escape through. Life is wonderful but sometimes difficult. We all need a parallel state of mind to enter. There are many ways to do this but none offer the sheer joy of joining Sir Terry on many journeys with many adventures in the company of many wonderful, colourful characters who, I have to say, are as real to me as any person I have ever met. I would go further and say that I feel I know them better, I have been allowed to see what makes them tick.
When you close the pages of one of his books and are shoved roughly back into "real life" you bring with you a different way of looking at the world. Nothing else gives you that. Other forms of escapism leave you with the residue of a hangover.
Thank goodness Sir Terry Pratchett lived in this world and opened a doorway into another.
From: "Camille Fabre" camillefabre13@yahoo.fr
I'm currently studying traditional music from the south half of France (I'm from here), for a musician diploma. As 'homework' for the holidays, my hurdy gurdy teacher asked me to find by myself a specific type of music from the Massif Central, 'bourrees' (a kind of danse typical from the centre of France, and it's the place where the gurdies came from, a few centuries ago - they don't have dozens of little feet, but they have *weels*. Beware of the gurdies).
So I went to the local occitan multimedia library, to borrow some CD's...
... and I found by pure chance a certain CD made by a fiddler... Most of the tunes he plays on it are traditional, but some are written by him (that's the difference between trad' and folk', by the way, folk music is kind of stuck in the past while trad' constantly evolves - ok, I too should make footnotes...).
One of those pieces is called 'Pratchett Polka'!
Of course I borrowed the CD without even looking at the rest of the playlist.
So, here you go :
(you just have to click on 'listen')
I don't think it's pure luck that this fiddle player, Jean Francois Vrod, gave that name to his song. I'm sure this musician has really good taste concerning books!
This polka is so beautiful, joyful and sad at the same time, and so different compared to the traditional polkas from the south of France, it really reminds me of our dear Terry Pratchett, this feeling of something so different, so unique. When your thoughts wander around the Discworld, you have that mixed feeling of sadness but still all the joy coming back at you.
Books and music are truly incredible. Writers and musicians too, especially those who manage to affect us...
From: "Juliana Venning" vgjules50@gmail.com
As my beloved fifteen year old geriatric Cairn terrier (he's a strawberry blonde by the way) was named for T Pratchett's Igoe (eth) who are 'loyal but independent' should I keep TP memory alive and often meet other TP fans just because of my dear dog's name and his longevity.
When TP visited Christchurch - a long time ago prior to our disastrous quakes, I had the chance to let him know my dog was a Cairn named Igor, he laughed a lot, said how appropriate and he'd certainly never had anyone tell him that before.
To meet the great and kind man I'd worn a black straw hat with paper handmade flowers and on top a bought (small stuffed) cotton toad...he'd been pleased at that too!
So in quakey Christchurch NZ where kiwis are always on edge (both nerve wise and tectonically) there's a small, four-pawed TP ambassador still bravely stepping out in Terry's memory.
8. Disc Trivia
We're back with five challenging trivia questions for you - this month the questions come from the 2003 Discworld Diary... yep, it's halloween type questions!
Q1. In the second verse of Blood all in Vein what is the 5th line?
Q2. Who is the harmonium player in the Uberwald league of Temperance, Ankh-Morpork mission?
Q3. What did a mildly dyslexic vampire hunter attempt to kill Sir Francis Barney with?
Q4. What is the name of the only known example of a vampire witch?
Q5. Who are the founder members of the Fresh Start Club?
The answers can be found at the end of this issue.
9. Review of Lords and Ladies - Brisbane Arts Centre
Review by Russell Cook
OK, short review below. Anything I've forgotten or got wrong I blame on quantum weirdness, and wine.
This will be a brief review as I didn't bring home a program and went to the for fun not with the intent to review.
The short review is: You know you're having a good night out when you as an audience member can see the actors enjoying their role. The casting was great and they were all really suited to their roles. Thanks for a great night out.
I won't go through the story, since PTerry said it best, and most here would know it better than I! I will say, I think this adaptation was pretty faithful and that did make for lots of scene changes and a touch long overall. However the acting, sets and overall production quality carried that pretty well. Set design and special effects were very well done - top quality I thought.
The main cast (from memory) were:
Granny: John Grey
Nanny: Sally Daly
Magrat: Sasha Barclay
Verence: Callum Pulsford
Shaun Ogg: Joel Moss
Elvish Queen: Kristin Moss
Cassanunda and Beekeeper: Garry Condoseres
Jason Ogg: Simon Miller (?)
Sorry Archchancellor I can't remember your name :-(
Overall this was a great fun show. Very well produced and staged. Sets were great, and considering the set changes (LOTS) were done in a timely manner. Not really remembering the details of the book I can't say if it was 100% faithful to the original. I can say it was longish for a play, but entertaining throughout so you didn't mind. A couple of scenes at the end of act one and the latter scene where the elves get the comeuppance lost the pace a bit. But hey, with LOTs of scene changes, only 2 slow scenes is pretty good.
Shaun Ogg (Joel Moss) was fantastic and I think a very Eric Idle-esque character. The cheeky grin, the knowing looks and the innocence rolled into one. He is privy to everyone's secrets in the castle. Considering he cleans the privy, that's quite appropriate. Given I'm a big Python fan he probably stole the show in a disarming (appropriate for a guard) kind of way.
At first I was a bit taken aback with Granny being played by a man (sorry Will S), and John Grey did take a few minutes to get comfortable with his character. Buy boy when he did - it was Granny on the stage, make no mistake about that. She certainly aten't dead!
Nanny Ogg was another example of excellent casting Sally looked and sounded like Nanny. She had some trouble settling into the role and muffed a few lines during the first act, but overall another actor that WAS the character. As in the books she's a good foil to Granny. If Granny's the salt of the earth Nanny is the honey with a wee dram of the good drop added.
Sasha, was a delight as Magrat, a sexy young girl, still with a young person's air of innocence. Magrat tried to dispel it with the myth of experience and alternately succeeded and failed - as you expect from all young adults growing into their adulthood. Magrat went from petulant youth, to haughty Queen to innocent young girl and back again. Like Verence, the basic goodness of the character shone through. Thoroughly enjoyed seeing her righteousness anger in smiting the evil elvish warriors. Well done Sasha for putting all this into the character.
Callum as Verence was the right mix of dashing king and bumbling fool. His kind heartedness and wanting to do the right thing by everyone even when it caused conflicts shone through. The awkward moments with Magrat were only awkward for them. They were highly amusing to us in the audience.
I'm not sure who played Jason Ogg, the blacksmith, (Simon Miller? If not my apologies), but another solid performance. Did his best to keep the Lancre All-Comers Morris Dancers focussed and definitely prevented too much bucket and stick dance! An upright man in the old sense of the word.
Archchancellor Ridcully (sorry I didn't get the actors name) was for me the right level of pomposity, knowledge, ignorance and vagueness :-) He bumbled along reliving his fairytale romance of yesteryear in his head, coming to grips with quantum strangeness and the many disc theory of Stibbons - where he may or may not have married, but if he did was livid he didn't invite himself to his wedding.
Elvish Queen: Kristin Moss was the haughty glamour queen. She projected the right level of beguiling beauty and dreadful disdain.
Cassanunda and Beekeeper (Garry Condoseres): provided the Somerset english farmer as a beekeeper. Not a country bumpkin, he knows his hives and the messy bits and isn't afraid to share them - much to Magrat's dismay. He contrasts this role with the slightly farcical but true to form and story Cassanunda. Well played sir - no need to try harder.
For those characters I haven't mentioned, my apologies. Ponder Stibbons, Pernita the other witches, the devilish elven warriors, the awesome Morris dancers and the elvish King. Each deserving praise for their performances. They added depth to the story and faithfulness to the book.
Overall, the show was an enjoyable and entertaining way to cap off a week visiting Brisbane. The quality of actors and production delivers on the level of professional theatric status of most of the cast/crew that you would expect. Great night out and well done to everyone involved.
Granny and Nanny, Verence, Shaun, Magrat and the ArchChancellor all captured the essence and dare I say magic of Pratchett's characters and made them appear live before us. That in itself is a real treat and worth a night out.
This is a faulty memory review, and a summary of how I found the actors portrayal of Sir PTerry's characters. For a review of the full story - read Lords and Ladies.
10. Review of Dodger - Birmingham
Review By David Northey
Hall Green Little Theatre, 7th October 2017.
Having heard via the grapevine - OK, OK, via a message on Facebook from the DWM admin - about a Terry Pratchett play in Birmingham, I had to go and see it! And having my arm suitably twisted by them, I agreed to write a review on this!
Having never heard of this theatre group before, and then looking that they were a youth theatre group, I was anxious how they would put on this non Discworld play! But my fears were proved to be unfounded, as they had put on Wyrd Sisters a few years before!
Having got to the theatre in the middle of a housing estate in Acocks Green slightly early - yes you, I can hear you giggling over Acocks Green - there was a few members of the audience waiting outside to be let in. A few were avid Terry fans, a few were there as support for their grandchildren who were appearing and never read a Terry Pratchett book, and a few who had dabbled in Terry's work but were put off as it is "Fantasy, and it's all about Dragons, and magic, and the covers!"
The studio theatre seats 60 people (there is another stage that seats 150), and was fully packed.
Apart from Ester Roden who played Solomon, Jack Heath who played Disraeli, the German Prince, and Mayhew, Richard Todd who played Sweeney Todd and the engineer Balzalgette, and Daniel Beaton (the brother of the actress playing Dodger) playing Mr Charlie, the rest of the 26 strong cast were part of the HGLT Youth theatre group!
Dodger was ably played by Emily Beaton, and played well off Solomon, played by Esther Roden - who thankfully did not channel the Ron Moody version of Fagin in Oliver!
Abigail Kaur-Bennett played the innocence of Simplicity to a tee!
Those who doubled, tripled, or in 1 case Quadrupled, played their parts to a tee, with a slight change to their accents.
The intimate studio had no elaborate sets or changes, with the stage being set simply, and with different lighting and sound effects for the sewers, and the various sites around Victorian London!
A well-rehearsed, and ably acted play by all the members of the HGLT Am-Dram team.
Hopefully some of the audience - and maybe some of the actors - will have been Terry-vangelised to go and try some Terry Pratchett books!
If the HGLT team ever decide to do another Terry play, I for one will be going back!
11. Irish Discworld Convention
Review by Helen Nicolls
An Englishwoman, a Welshman, an Irishman and two Americans walk into a bar. They talk about Terry Pratchett. It's not a joke, it's a description of our last night at the Irish Discworld Convention. We were in the bar with an American couple we had just met, who had never met Terry and wanted to hear our memories of him. My husband (the Welshman) and I (the Englishwoman), along with our friend Alan Keatinge (the Irishman) had the opportunity to relate all our favourite Terry anecdotes, like the time he called my husband a bastard or made fun of my pajamas at Wadfest.
It has been many years since we went to a full-blown Convention and IDW Con came highly recommended by connoisseurs. We arrived Friday morning after getting up at an ungodly hour. Fortunately, the event was held at the Cork International Airport hotel so it was a short walk from the terminal to the Convention. By happy chance, my husband was next to a Discworld character on the flight (I was sitting behind because I refused to pay Ryanair extra for early check-in or to choose seats). It was Constable Haddock, a real policeman who Terry wrote into the series because he liked the sound of his name.
The flight had left me a bit stir-crazy so I was glad to get the chance to join a longsword workshop where we learned how how hit people's necks and knees with longswords. They key is to remember that you are aiming to hit their body not their sword, whilst also remembering that you signed a solemn pledge not to hurt anyone. My husband did the more practical class on how not to get stabbed. These were fun and good exercise after the flight.
The Convention itself was themed around the Unseen University. The premise was that it was an open day and the faculty themselves had buggered off and left junior staff to deal with it. Alan tells me that this was so that convention goers did not feel that they could not dress as Ricully et al. but it worked well as it is exactly what the UU faculty would do. At the major events (opening and closing ceremonies, Maskerade and probably the gala dinner) we saw instalments of a play where wizards attempted to handle the open day and prevent Hex from exploding. Eventually, the day was saved by the power of friendship and the FTB. A portable device called FECC also helped.
We missed most of the events Saturday as we took a trip into Cork and went to the Cork Butter Museum, where we learned the history of the Irish butter trade from the days when cattle theft was an honourable occupation to the modern era. In the evening we went to the Maskerade, which had some excellent entries. The winner was Vincent Oberheim as Nuggan, who issued his latest abominations to all.
We saw more amazing costumes on Sunday night as people went into the Gala dinner. I had decided not to do costumes as I was determined to keep my cabin bag nice and light lest Ryanairr charge me 50GBP excess baggage, so I just packed a different Discworld T-shirt for each day of the event. My husband wore his Ponder outfit with "Actually, I am a rocket wizard T-shirt". We saw a boy in an almost identical costume making him a bit like a Mini-me. We did not have tickets to the Gala dinner so instead dined in the hotel bar with fans from the Netherlands, France and the Czech Republic, all of whom we had only just met. Such is the magic of Discworld.
Memories of Terry were a common topic of throughout the convention. Increasingly, they have become part of the lore of events. This was especially true at the guest events. Pat Harkin gave a talk on his role as one of Terry's "Greek chorus", telling us how he advised Terry on such vital medical matters as the degree of force needed to remove a human head and the quantity of earwax we produce. Colin Smythe gave a talk on publishing Terry's work which provided a lot of insight into the politics of publishing. He distributed signed copies of one of Terry's early short stories printed on parchment. Everyone then wondered how to get theirs home without creasing it. Bernard and Isobel Pearson gave a talk on Terry that included anecdotes that must be withheld to protect the guilty. At the end, they gave the fraternal farewell as they had to leave before the closing ceremony. It was very sweet to see them hold hands to utter the traditional, "PISS OFF!".
We had a great time at the Irish Discworld Convention. It was great to catch up with old friends and make new ones. The hotel staff were very friendly and clearly enjoyed having us there. They commented on how happy everyone was. Although, Terry is no longer with us, he is still very much a presence at Discworld events in the best possible way. When we people tell stories of Terry it is usually with joy and laughter rather than sadness. I can think of no more fitting tribute to the man who brought us all together.
12. Review of Mort - Twyford
Review by Rachel Anthony-Rowlands, aided and abetted by several other audience members.
Nearly the whole Discworld Monthly team gathered to see Mort in Twyford (It was too far for Marie - we missed you). We were expecting a good evening of entertainment to help us all celebrate Jason's 46th birthday and it was wonderful to see so many of Discworld Monthly's supporters and friends. It also means this review (although written by me) has views of more than just myself and Jason within it.
The poster should have given us an idea of what we were going to be presented with here. With its neon pink and black styling it is an awesome looking poster, very different to anything we had seen before. [and considering we have dealt with hundreds of production posters over the years, to give us something different is quite a feat- Rachel] But we didn't expect those bright colours and seventies vibe to roll over into the production itself.
The show opened with a crowd of singers singing at the hiring fayre. Then we met Mort and his father. I say his but in this case Mort was played by Lisa Kent, a capable actress who was the ultimately the wrong height, shape and gender to be Mort but so embodied his personality that nobody noticed.
Mort's father Lezek was exactly as we imagined him in looks and characterization. Considering his role in quite short in the story, we expected David Tanquerary to appear again on stage as maybe one of the Senior Wizards. (More on them later)
Mort with his scruffy red hair and itchy shirt met with Death and got taken off to Death's Domain on Binky, a feat of engineering that we adored. A tiny Mort and Death sat on a tiny Binky drifted across the top of the stage on a pulley system lit up by a torch hanging above them. We love this kind of innovation at productions (Errol at the Gate Theatre earlier this year was another fine example). They don't need to be overtly technical or expensive and they serve their purpose well within the story, although I don't remember the bit about a torch gliding solo across the stage after every time Binky took flight which gave everyone present the giggles.
Albert was the grumpy, snidy servant and powerful ex archchancellor of the Unseen University that has sat in my (and in many others) heads since we all first read Mort many many years ago. The actor Peter King admitted in the programme that he had never read a Pratchett book before appearing in this play. Stephen Briggs character description and Terry's writing had obviously been used to his advantage as he was the best Albert we've seen on stage or screen. It showed that Stephen's script books are worth every penny when the advice given in them is used to full effect.
There were several other characters that we met along the way. The most brilliant Keeble at the jobcentre really made us all believe we were there, possibly the only moment in the whole production where the magic of the stage really shone through. That was totally down to the ability of Richard McKinnie to portray the poor jobcentre worker so well.
The rest of cast played their parts exceedingly well to the directions they were given. I must give a special mention to Neil Perrott who played Death. His voice and attitude was perfect. Those blue lights above his eyes must have made for an interesting afterglow once they were switched off.
I am now going to tell you about the moment which mortified me and actually tainted our enjoyment of the play.
Let me give you the background. Albert Malich is at the UU, he calls the senior wizards to his side so he can perform the Rite of Ashkente. (In this case two of the youngest members of the cast, a pair of girls in their teens, tbh David Tanquerary and Richard McKinnie would have been far better in those positions. It wasn't due to a lack of available cast members that these girls were chosen to be the Bursar and a Senior Wizard as you are about to find out).
The Rite of Ashkente is the most important and serious rites on the Disc, so why the director thought it totally appropriate to make it a comedy dance routine set to "You're the one that I want" from Grease is beyond all comprehension. (It also clarified why there were a couple of teenage girls as senior members of the faculty. They would dance!) It came across as disrespectful to the book to make a mockery of the Rite in this way.
Talking of music...
The opening of the scene were Ysabell and Mort lovingly insult each other almost caused us to walk out of the show. The music and the way the pair of them sat back to back made it appear that they were going to sing the insults at each other. We really thought this was about to become Mort: The Musical and not in a good way.
The use of music throughout this production was actually off putting. The sixties and seventies pop tunes didn't really fit with the story neither did the sixties / seventies styling and clothing. If you can imagine rows of lifetimers that were neon oranges and pinks that was what we were looking at. It didn't fit with the idea of Death's house being black, black and more black. The cast mainly wore bell bottomed flares and late 60's style dresses complete with beehives which is not exactly typical Discworld style attire.
Unfortunately in this production, there was more than one occasion where Terry's written humour was played down in favour of some cheap visual or musical joke. Yes the audience laughed, but for many, it was for the wrong reason. The "so wrong it's funny" cropped up a few times throughout the production. It wasn't the cast's fault, or the script, it was part of the director's vision to bring Pratchett to those who weren't fans in the audience. Stephen's script had already done that work so a lot of the director's vision choices were really not needed. As a result we often felt like we were watching people perform in a play, instead of being swept along in the magic of the story.
I'll let you read what the director wrote in the programme and make your own thoughts on it.
It certainly explained the bizarre seventies and music vibe to the whole production.
"I have chosen to set the play in the 1970's (Roundworld time) because that was the time when I was growing up and finding my way through fashion, relationships and career choices. Also, Terry Pratchett first published the book of Mort in the mid 1980's and, as I was reading it, 1970's music and famous people kept leaping out of the pages at me, so I can't help but think that those years may have been an influence on him too"
Hmm. . .
We see a huge amount of Discworld plays and we know that the audience are often people who have never read any of the books. That's what makes the plays special. Stephen Briggs worked hard to make sure the plays were accessible to all when he adapted them, often with Terry breathing down his neck making sure he didn't muck it up.
A good Discworld play is one that sweeps us up and carries us along in the story. Some kind of weird magic appears on the stage and sprinkles us with magic dust and makes us go wow.
I think that's why we love them so much and why, when one is not as good as it should be, we feel the need to say so. In this case the cast performed really well , the setting, music and often the director's choices were the issue here.
As is often said, less here would have definitely been more.
13. Father Christmas's Fake Beard Competition
This month we have a copy of Father Christmas' Fake Beard to give away.
To win you just need to answer the question below.
What inappropriate present did Death (as the Hogfather) give the little girl in Crumley's?
Send your answer and full postal address to competitions@discworldmonthly.co.uk by Thursday 23rd November 2017.
Your address will only be used for sending out your prize should you be the lucky winner. Once prizes are sent out all address details will be destroyed. Entries received after the closing date or sent to any other address will be ignored. No more than one entry per person will be accepted - multiple entries will result in a ban from the competition. Failure to answer the questions or provide your postal address will prevent you from being entered into the competition. Answers to the questions must not be posted to any websites before the competition ends. The judges' decision is final. The competition is open to all readers
14. Terry Pratchett: HisWorld Competition- Result
Last month's competition gave you the chance to win a HisWorld pin badge and a copy of The Little Blue Book signed by both Rob Wilkins and Paul Kidby at the opening day of the Terry Pratchett: HisWorld exhibition at Salisbury Museum
To win you just needed to answer the question below:
Who was the first person to give a ticketed talk about Terry Pratchett at the Terry Pratchett: HisWorld exhibition in Salisbury Museum?
The answer was: Stephen Briggs
The winner was picked from a jar full of correct entries by the randomiser that is known as Milly.
The winner is Orlanda Harvey of Bournemouth - Your prize will be in the post next week !
15. Discworld Ale Prize Draw Result !
We haven't forgotten, time and "Stuff" (I.E. Paul enjoying a holiday) has got in the way of us getting the name of the competition winner from Discworld Beers. As soon as we get it, we will inform you all here!
This competition was being run by discworldbeers.co.uk and thus their terms and conditions apply.
16. The End
This month's issue is brought to you by very scary people in the queue for a scare maze where the actors failed to scare them and the queue jumpers who caused the people to be very scary in the first place and the lack of punctuation in this paragraph.
Please let us have any submissions for issue 248 of Discworld Monthly by the 23rd November (Important it is a Thursday) 2017.
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If you have any problems un-subscribing visit our removal help page.* Disc Trivia Results *
- Q1.
- In the second verse of Blood all in Vein what is the 5th line?
- A1.
- Do not live in vein.
- Q2.
- Who is the harmonium player in the Uberwald league of Temperance, Ankh-Morpork mission?
- A2.
- Mrs Lettice Babblejack (not on Tuesday's)
- Q3.
- What did a mildly dyslexic vampire hunter attempt to kill Sir Francis Barney with?
- A3.
- A melon in his mouth, and a steak through his heart.
- Q4.
- What is the name of the only known example of a vampire witch?
- A4.
- Miss Cara Konjolos
- Q5.
- Who are the founder members of the Fresh Start Club?
- A5.
- Count and Countess Notfaroutoe (Arthur and Doreen Winkings)
* Small Print *
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* Thanks *
Thanks for reading this issue of 'Discworld Monthly'. We hope you enjoyed it. If you have any comments or suggestions for the future of this newsletter please email: info@discworldmonthly.co.uk
*Rachel here*
We may not be perfect designers, or award winning journalists but we do our best to keep you all entertained and informed about all things Terry. We do have some ethics though. We like our news to be current, up to date and factual with a solid source. We don't like posting rumours but occasionally the source it comes from is 98 percent solid so we will tell you it's a rumour and confirm it when we have a 100 percent confirmation. Our own articles are written by us for us only. You won't find articles from other publications here unless it's a formal press release about an adaptation, book release or event or something we actually wrote for someone else.
Whilst you keep reading it, we'll keep on writing it because we love Terry's books just as much as you do.
If you are reading this, we would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to everyone who has a birthday this month, but special DWM wishes go to Nathalie De Schampheleer, Simon Rowlinson,Chris Gibbs, Jean Mead, Madeleine Davies-Luke, Rick Trivitt, Graham Stribley, Lizzie Glaiser, Justin Dorey, Sara Long, Emily Richards, Rob Lupine, Becky Ottery, Jem John Millar, Jo Abbott, Lisa Risley, Elizabeth MacMichael, Michaela Lilla Bos, Pete Smith, Rob West, Sarah Spall, Danielle Clarke, Joe Angel, Lucy Anthony, John Hird, Ruechenda Herd, Charlie Mitchell. Tim Van Holder, and Martin Macey. Also sending best wishes to Rachel's Mum and Dad on their wedding anniversary!
(If you would like your birthday included in the listings, send us an email the month before your birthday and we will add it to the list! Email rachel@discworldmonthly.co.uk Subject: Birthday)
GNU Terry Pratchett...