Newsletter 9 - June 2025 - Better Than a Poke in the Eye
1. Editorial
Welcome to issue 9 of BetterThan - we are halfway through the year and in the UK at least we are living through a mini heatwave. You can imagine we've been out and about rather than home writing newsletters.
We are currently preparing to bring The Portal to Discworld to Fantasy Forest later in July. This will be our third time at the event and while it is a lot of fun it is also a lot of work. Over the course of the weekend we expect to see many of the 18,000 ticket holders as the flood through our portal.
This year the fools guild think they can take over but the witches are fighting back. So attendees will be able to make clown eggs or if they prefer shambles. They'll be able to find out what's in Granny's kitchen, talk to us about Terry, meet our Luggage, have Granny read Where's my Cow or even play some of the sample adventure from the new Discworld RPG with our DM, Rincewind.
Hopefully we'll be able to let you know how we got on in the next issue.
Monstrous Regiment seems to be the play to perform at the moment. We have no less than three production of Monstrous Regiment listed on our events page
Until next time, stay safe, keep out of the sun and look after yourselves.
Jason
2. News Feed
Our news feed always has the most up to date information. Click on the titles below to read the full articles on our website.
The International Discworld Convention announce dates for 2026
The International Discworld Convention have issued a press release to announce the dates and location of their 2026 event.
For the first time in 20 years the Convention will be back in Hinkley (a location used in 2002, 2004 and 2006).
Information about ticket prices etc will come in the future. [Read More]
Ticket news for the Hogs Ball at Llamedos Holiday Camp.
With The Hogs Ball at Llamedos Holiday Camp dates now set in stone, 6th - 8th March 2026, the team can now announce their ticket information.
Ticket price is £155 per person with only 150 tickets available.
Your ticket will include:
- Welcome Pack,
- All Entertainment,
- Evening meals on both Friday and Saturday of the event,
- The Hogs Costume Ball ticket
- Free parking at The Diplomat Hotel.
Tickets will go sale on 1st July at 6pm (BST) exclusively on Llamedos Holiday Camp's website only.
More information will be available in the next few days with regards to their policies and terms and conditions. [Read More]
3. Articles
We have an extensive archive of articles we have written in our archive index
Review: Men at Arms performed by Vision Arts in Milford Haven
When we found out Vision Arts we doing Men at Arms we jumped at the opportunity to pop down to see their production. Previously we really enjoyed their production of Wyrd Sisters and wondered how they would follow it up.
Men at Arms isn't an easy play to put on and we applaud Vision arts and directors Adam Edgerley and Sarah Rosser for keeping the production tight, fast and very funny.
4. New, Updated and Upcoming Events
Remember to visit our events page to keep up to date with all the latest events / stage productions.
Wyrd Sisters in Australia
Dates: 4th - 6th July 2025
Production Company: Uncertain Curtain Theatre
Location: Bendigo, Australia
Website: www.facebook.com
Box Office: boxoffice.gotix.com.au
Mort in Germany
Dates: 17th - 22nd July 2025
Production Company: English Drama Group Bielefeld
Location: Bielefeld, Germany
Website: edgbielefeld.weebly.com
Monstrous Regiment in England
Dates: 24th July - 2nd August
Production Company: Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society
Location: Richmond, North Yorkshire
Box Office: georgiantheatreroyal.savoysystems.co.uk
Monstrous Regiment in Scotland
Dates: 11th-14h August 2025
Production Company: Strawmoddie Theatre
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Website: www.facebook.com
Box Office: www.eventbrite.co.uk
Monstrous Regiment in Scotland
Dates: 15th-16th August 2025
Production Company: Strawmoddie Theatre
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Website: www.facebook.com
Box Office: www.eventbrite.com
International Discworld Convention 2026 in England
Dates: Friday 7th - Monday 10th August 2026
Location: Leicestershire, England
Website: dwcon.org
5. Readers' Letters
If you want to send us a readers' letter email us at info@betterthanapokeintheeye.co.uk subject Readers' Letters
* From: tea mailto:illiad@sonic.net
* Subject: A delightful project that would have done Bloody Stupid Johnson proud
Nerdforge is a fun Scandanavian couple who posts their ridiculously clever fantasy builds on YouTube They took all of Sir Terry's paperback books and made an artist ... book wheel? Or something. It's wholly unreasonable and a fun tribute to making the turtle move... with gears. I love when my favorite creators also love my favorite books!
Better Than Replies: We love the craziness of this project! Totally impactable but fun. (This is coming from someone that owns the complete text of The Colour of Magic as a poster)
6. The End
Thanks for reading this newsletter from Better Than a Poke in the Eye!
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