Wossname -- November 2017 -- main issue
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wossnameWossname
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
November 2017 (Volume 20, Issue 11, Post 1)
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WOSSNAME is a free publication offering news, reviews, and all the other stuff-that-fits pertaining to the works of Sir Terry Pratchett. Originally founded by the late, great Joe Schaumburger for members of the worldwide Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North American Discworld Society and other continental groups, Wossname is now for Discworld and Pratchett fans everywhere in Roundworld.
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Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Vera P
Newshounds: Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow, Mss C, Alison not Aliss
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Evil Steven Dread, Mrs Wynn-Jones
Staff Technomancers: Jason Parlevliet, Archchancellor Neil, DJ Helpful
Book Reviews: Annie Mac, Drusilla D'Afanguin, Your Name Here
Puzzle Editor: Tiff (still out there somewhere)
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
Emergency Staff: Steven D'Aprano, Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare time)
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INDEX:
01) EDITOR'S LETTER
02) GOOD OMENS NEWS
03) ODDS AND SODS
04) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
05) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
06) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
07) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
08) CLOSE
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01) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
As yet another beacon of the creative arts is extinguished by dementia – this time, Malcolm Young of AC/DC, one of the giants of modern rhythm guitar – it's worth remembering once again how much Sir Terry Pratchett did to advance the cause of research and acceptance of this monstrous illness. In a sensitively written piece in the Financial Times on the "coming out" of Alzheimer's, journalist Sarah Neville does just that:
"Pratchett was different. If illness is a foreign country to all but its reluctant inhabitants, the fantasy writer was the first to send back regular dispatches describing the scenery and topography of a hitherto uncharted condition. Through his speeches and interviews, we discovered that his particular form of the disease affected his ability to process visual information, but not his reasoning nor, crucially, his command of language: the prolific writer's final novel was published almost six months after he had died. Others have followed his example of openness, including Timothy West and Prunella Scales, veteran British actors who described their travels around Europe on canal boats in a weekly television series, despite Scales' advancing dementia. It was less a travelogue than a moving portrait of their long marriage, each episode carrying the subliminal – and in its own way subversive – message that mutual attraction and respect will outlast cognitive decline. For Pratchett, publicly describing his disease had a talismanic power. 'I remember when people died of "a long illness"; now we call cancer by its name, and as every wizard knows, once you have a thing's real name you have the first step to its taming,' he said... Language can have its own deterministic power, as Terry Pratchett noted in his 2008 speech. He said then: 'We are at war with cancer, and we use that vocabulary. We battle, we are brave, we survive. And we have a large armaments industry. For those of us with early-onset [dementia] in particular, it's more of a series of skirmishes.'As Alzheimer's continues to emerge from the shadows, it is time to move on from the skirmishing. We need a war..."
https://www.ft.com/content/37254a02-ced1-11e7-b781-794ce08b24dc
In case you only read online articles as plain text, it's worth noting that one of the photographs in this piece is of Terry Jones and his wife Anna Soderstrom, and it shines with joy and heartbreak: http://on.ft.com/2A3AzXQ
Now then...
– Annie Mac, Editor
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02) GOOD OMENS NEWS
Casting updates: along with Adria Arjona (Anathema), Nina Sosanya (Sister Mary Loquacious), and Ned Dennehy and Ariyon Bakare (Hastur and Ligur), Josie Lawrence has been cast as Agnes Nutter; Reece Shearsmith as a certain Tudor-era playwright; Anna Maxwell Martin as Beelzebub; Mireille Enos as War; Lourdes Faberes as Pollution, Yusuf Gatewood as Famine... and Nicholas Parsons as the voice of the Creator (no, not Sir Pterry, the *other* one). Neil Gaiman has been quoted as saying he's "hoping that Death will be played by Death"...
...and some iconographs...
This is what extras look like when you have a budget... a couple of iconographs from the current Good Omens shoot, as tweeted by Neil Gaiman:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DKFykwVWkAE2xnc.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DKFyWKUWkAEE77B.jpg
...and an action replay of your Editor's two favourite demons:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJ_mL4DWsAExChI.jpg
Crowley's hair! http://dailym.ai/2y1aWU0
...and his Bentley! http://dailym.ai/2iDWkn4
...and here be Newt Pulsifer (Jack Whitehall) in all his nerdy glory: http://dailym.ai/2zVT1Qh
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03) ODDS AND SODS
The Terry Pratchett: HisWorld exhibit is rocking Salisbury – and parts much further away. From Spire FM in Salisbury:
"Since it opened in mid September over 10,000 people have visited Salisbury Museum to explore the life of the late Discworld writer. Some fans have come as far as America and Australia to get a glimpse into the Discworld author's life... The highlight for many fans, is without doubt, the replica of his office known as The Chapel. It features the actual desk Sir Terry wrote many of his novels at complete with coffee cup stains and even his spectacles. Such has been the popularity of the exhibition that Salisbury Museum has now extended its opening times to include Sundays..."
https://www.spirefm.co.uk/news/local-news/2424748/10000-pratchett-fans-visit-salisbury-for-exhibition/
*
Also rocking – Paul Kidby's greatest Discworld hits. Well, a fine selection of them at any rate. Here be a picture post in The Guardian, with comments on each image by the artist. Beautiful stuff:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/gallery/2017/nov/22/the-art-of-terry-pratchetts-discworld-in-pictures
*
It turns out there *is* some orangutan news too interesting to resist sharing: a new species of our favourite orange ape, the Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) has been discovered in Indonesia! "This is the first new species of great ape described since the bonobo from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1929. With fewer than 800 left in the wild, the Tapanuli orangutan is now one of the world's most endangered great ape species... the Tapanuli orangutan is in fact more closely related to the Bornean orangutan than it is to the Sumatran orangutans that live to its north, north of Lake Toba. The three orangutans—Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli—evolved from a common ancestor about 3.4 million years ago..." Read the entire press release, with photos of this lovely species, here: http://bit.ly/2zrM5ga
There is also a short video at https://twitter.com/Global_Wildlife/status/926118662758572032 about the current threat to these apes' environment.
*
There's a drive on to restore the Cosgrove Hall hand-puppets used in the making of their classic stop-motion animated shows, including Truckers:
"Sixty percent of the latex puppets, including characters from The Wind in the Willows, are 'at serious risk'. And 20% are past saving, according to Westley Wood, a former Cosgrove Hall employee who has rescued the treasure trove. Cosgrove Hall also made such classic shows as Danger Mouse, Count Duckula, Terry Pratchett's Truckers and Noddy's Toyland Adventures. But its characters were put into storage when the studio shut in 2009. Some of the better-preserved items of memorabilia are now going on display in an exhibition at the Waterside Arts Centre in Sale, Manchester. According to Wood, the hand-drawn acetate cells used to animate the likes of Danger Mouse and Count Duckula have lasted well. But the 3D puppets that were employed in stop-motion animations have deteriorated with age, with parts of the latex falling off some to expose the steel skeletons beneath... The archive has been awarded a £42,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with contributions from Sale Waterside and Arts Council England taking the fund over £50,000. But that won't stretch to restoring the hundreds of items..."
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-41692864
*
The perspicacious Mark Hughes Cobb of the Tuscaloosa News returns with a plea to Team Good Omens:
"Who else trembles with something other than anticipation when they hear a favorite book is being interpreted into a movie or TV series? Thought so. Any attempt to list art that's been churned into gruel by Hollywood would fill far more than this newspaper... It's more likely a great movie derives from a bad or forgettable novel, because visual and aural magic can storm the castle, bypass logic and craft miracles in the mind... Some of filmdom's most-loved faces stem from pulp fiction: Tarzan, James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, Jason Bourne, Moses ... Kidding, kidding. Philip K. Dick's oeuvre became cinematic legend, because directors such as Spielberg and Ridley Scott saw potential in stories that became 'Blade Runner' and 'Minority Report'... Hope springs infernal from BBC2's mini-series adaptation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's apocalypse-averted novel 'Good Omens,' as happy news continues to roll in, slapping pessimism silly. Or role in: The casting started with David Tennant (best of the modern-era 'Doctor Who' incarnations) as not-so-demonic Crowley, and Michael Sheen as mild but not to be messed with Aziraphale. And the rest are no slouches: Jon Hamm as the Archangel Gabriel, Michael McKean as twitchy witchfinder Shadwell and Miranda Richardson as Madame Tracy..."
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20171102/mark-hughes-cobb-dont-botch-book-again
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04) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
4.0 AUDITIONS
* WYRD SISTERS IN WEST SUSSEX
The Ifield Barn Theatre Society will be holding two open auditions for their March 2018 staging of Wyrd Sisters.
When: 11th and 18th December 2017
Venue: Ifield Barn Theatre, Ifield Street, Ifield, W Sussex RH11 0NN
Time: 8pm both days
Note: all cast members chosen must be available for all the performances (7th through 10th March), including a Saturday matinee.
Contact Janine Robins on 07747 662008
http://www.ifieldbarn.co.uk/auditions.html
4.1 PLAYS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
* MORT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA (NOVEMBER/DECEMBER)
Roleystone Theatre, "a non-for-profit community group managed entirely by volunteers", are in the midst of their current production of Mort!
When: remaining shows are on 29th November and 1st and 2nd December 2017
Venue: Roleystone Theatre, 587 Brookton Hwy, Roleystone, Western Australia
Time: 8pm all shows
Tickets: $20 ($15 u-18's/Pensioners; 10 tickets bought receives an 11th free), which will be available for purchase via https://www.roleystonetheatre.com.au/web/Coming%20Attractions
https://www.roleystonetheatre.com.au/
* MORT IN LEICESTER (DECEMBER)
Leicester University Theatre will stage their production of Mort next month!
When: 6th-9th December 2017
Venue: Queen's Hall, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH
Time: doors open 7.30pm for all shows: "Audience are expected to have arrived by 7:20pm. If you have reserved but not paid for tickets, we reserve the right to reallocate tickets on a first come first served basis on the door if you do not arrive by this time. "
Tickets: £8 (members £4; concessions £5). To reserve tickets, go to http://bit.ly/2AdNiWa and fill in the relevant parts of the form
http://su-lutheatre.wixsite.com/lutheatre/productions
https://www.facebook.com/LUTheatre/
* LORDS AND LADIES IN NORWICH (DECEMBER)
The Youth Theatre Company will present their production of the Irana Brown adaptation of Lords and Ladies in December.
When: Thursday 14th – Saturday 16th December 2017
Venue: Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, Norwich NR2 1RL
Time: 7.30pm all shows (includes audio described performance on the 16th)
Tickets: £10 (jobseeker/over 60 £8.50) plus £1.20 per order for Postage and Packaging. To purchase tickets, go to http://bit.ly/2gemJKI and select your desired date.
https://secure.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk/Online/
4.2 PLAYS IN 2018
MORT IN STAFFORDSHIRE (JANUARY 2018)
The Tower Players return next year with a new Discworld production! Director Andy Moseley writes:
Having had only a brief cameo in 2012's Wyrd Sisters, Tower Players are putting everyone's favourite anthropomorphic personification front and centre in their new production of Mort. This is Tower Players' second outing to the second hand set of dimensions that is home to Discworld, following their highly commended staging of Wyrd Sisters in 2012.
Stephen Briggs' adaptation brings to life this humorous tale that tackles classic themes of unrequited young love, the nature of mortality and the impulsive, hormone driven disruption of the entire history of the future.
Book your tickets now for a great night in the company of Princesses, Wizards, hormonal teenagers and the most efficient short order cook ever to grace the kitchen of Harga's House of Ribs!
Tell your families. Tell your friends. Tell your enemies. Tell your colleagues. Tell the person sat next to you on the tube/train/bus. Tell your taxi driver. Tell random strangers in the street. Tell everyone!!
When: 11th-13th January 2018
Venue: Prince of Wales Centre, Church Street, Cannock, Staffs WS11 1DE
Time: TBA
Tickets: £12, available from the Box Office (01543 578 762) or online at https://boxoffice.wlct.org/event_description.aspx?eventid=655
If you have further enquiries, contact towerplayers@live.com
* MASKERADE IN READING (JANUARY 2018)
The Progress Theatre will be staging their production of Maskerade in January next year.
When: 18th–27th January 2018
Venue: Progress Theatre, The Mount, Reading RG1 5HL
Time: 7.45pm all evening shows, 2.30pm matinees on 20th and 27th January
Tickets: TBA
http://progresstheatre.co.uk/maskerade
* MEN AT ARMS IN BERKSHIRE *RESCHEDULED* (FEBRUARY 2018)
The Cranbourne Amateur Dramatic Society (CADS) have rescheduled their production of Men at Arms to February 2018:
"The Ankh-Morpork City Night Watch find their services are once more needed to tackle a threat to their city. A threat at least as deadly as a 60-foot dragon, but mechanical and heartless to boot. It kills without compunction. It is the first gun on the Discworld. The original Watch – Captain Vimes, Sergeant Colon, Corporal Carrot and Corporal Nobbs – are joined by some new recruits, selected to reflect the city's ethnic make-up – Lance-constables Cuddy, Detritus, and Angua. In a city, where Assassins are clowning about and Fools are dying, the Watch must keep control of themselves as much as its citizens."
When: 15th, 16th and 17th February 2018
Venue: St Peter's Church Hall, Hatchet Lane, Cranbourne, Winkfield, Berks SL4 2EG
Time: 7.45pm all evening shows, with a 2.30pm matinee on the 17th
Tickets: £9, available from the Box Office (phone 01344 886456) or by printing and posting a facsimile of the Booking Form below.
A rather adorable promotional video can be seen here (just remember to ignore the October performance dates at the end):
https://youtu.be/Dx_ndpHGevw
www.cadsact.org.uk/shows/
* MONSTROUS REGIMENT IN GEORGIA USA (FEBRUARY 2018)
Gainesville Theatre Alliance's 2017-2018 season will feature their production of Monstrous Regiment in a "February Festival of Theatre". "GTA is a nationally acclaimed collaboration of the University of North Georgia, Brenau University, theatre professionals and the northeast Georgia community that has yielded state and national awards."
When: 16th–24th February 2018
Venue: UNG-Gainesville's Ed Cabell Theatre, 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood, GA
Time: 7:30pm evening shows on the 16th, 18th, 20th-24th, and 2:30pm matinees on the 17th & 24th
Tickets: $18-20 for adults, $16-18 for seniors and $12-14 for students, depending on seat location, available from www.gainesvilleTHEATREalliance.org or by phoning the Box Office at 678 717 3624. NOTE: by early August, 97 percent of the GTA performances were sold out. "Theater-goers may purchase tickets to one show or all five. They also may build their own custom ticket package, earning discounts for two shows or more."
http://blog.ung.edu/gta/performances/index/
http://blog.ung.edu/gta/performances/tickets/
* MASKERADE IN YORK (FEBRUARY 2018)
We Are Theatre's next Discworld play will be the Stephen Briggs adaptation of Maskerade!
When: 26th–28th Feb 2018
Venue: The Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PR
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £10, bookable by phoning 07521 364107 (note that there is only limited seating available)
http://www.wearetheatre.co.uk/upcoming-productions.html
* WYRD SISTERS IN IFIELD, WEST SUSSEX (MARCH 2018)
The Ifield Barn Theatre Society are gearing up for their production of Wyrd Sisters in March.
When: 7th–10th March 2018
Venue: Ifield Barn Theatre, Ifield Street, Crawley, W Sussex RH110NN
Time: 8pm all evening shows, plus a 3pm matinee on 10th March
Tickets: £10 (£8 for members and children), available from http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ifieldbarntheatre
http://www.ifieldbarn.co.uk/coming-soon.html
* GUARDS! GUARDS! IN CHORLEY (APRIL 2018)
CADOS (possibly once the Chorley and District Operatic Society?) will be staging Guards! Guards! in April: "This production marks what would have been Sir Terry's 70th birthday."
When: 23rd–28th April 2018
Venue: Chorley Little Theatre, Dole Lane, Chorley, Lancs PR7 2RL
Time: 7:30pm all shows
Tickets: 23rd, 24th, 25th £8; 26th, 27th, 28th £10, available online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/208113 or in person at Malcom's Musicland 01257 264362 or Ebb & Flo Bookshop or when the Theatre Box Office is open for shows.
http://www.chorleylittletheatre.com/chorleytheatre/index.php/event/552-cados-play
Editor's note: the theatre itself is absolutely adorable! Look:
http://www.chorleylittletheatre.com/chorleytheatre/images/ChorleyLittleTheatre1.jpg
* MORT IN BIRKENHEAD (APRIL 2018)
The Carlton Players will be staging Mort next April: "He gets board and lodging and free use of company horse, and doesn't even need time off for his grandmother's funeral..."
When: 24th–28th April 2018
Venue: The Little Theatre, Grange Rd West, Birkenhead CH41 4BY
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £8 (students and under-16s £6), available from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/venue/FEDIFI or by ringing the box office on 0151 647 6593
https://www.carltonlittletheatre.co.uk/the-carlton-players/2017-18-season/mort/
* GUARDS! GUARDS! IN PLYMOUTH (MAY 2018)
City College Plymouth will be staging their production of Guards! Guards! in May 2018.
When: 16th–18th May 2018
Venue: Tilt Theatre, Performing Arts, City College Plymouth, Plymouth
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: TBA
https://allevents.in/plymouth/guards-guards-by-terry-pratchett/1943260799295027
* MEN AT ARMS IN BRISBANE, FOURECKS (OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018)
It will be a bit of a wait, but the Brisbane Arts Centre's next Discworld production – Men at Arms – is already looking good! All props to Fourecks for keeping the Disc alive on stage:
"Men at Arms is the 15th novel in Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, a comic fantasy universe with over 80 million books sold worldwide. Aficionados and newcomers to the Disc will love this adaptation, brought to life by the expertise of our Pratchett team."
When: 6th October through 3rd November 2018
Venue: Brisbane Arts Centre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Petrie Terrace (yes, the suburb and the road share a name), Brisbane, Queensland 4000
Time: 7.30pm Thursdays, 8.00pm Fridays and Saturdays, 6.30pm Sundays. "Doors close 5 minutes prior to performance. Late entry is not permitted."
Tickets: AU$34 ($28 concession or groups of 10 or more), available now online at http://bit.ly/2zHKO5a – and there will be Student Rush tickets priced at $15, available from the box office 15 minutes prior to curtain on the dates
https://www.artstheatre.com.au/menatarms
4.3 REVIEWS
* WYRD SISTERS IN ONTARIO, CANADA
By Robin Waples in the Sault Star:
"Director Richard Karhu does well with managing the technical aspects of the challenging piece, including a zillion scene changes, but he hasn't succeeded in bringing us the magic, which is so essential to this type of play. There is very little movement, the actors – with some exceptions - stand in a row and deliver lines in an uninspired fashion, dialogue with humour is understated, energy and pacing is lacking and, in general, there is no sense of playfulness... The witches are central to keeping us engaged, but there is surprisingly little effort here to make them interesting. Calista Jones, as young witch Magrat, does her best to lend her character some spunk, but Susanne Bugyra, as Granny Weatherwax, and Diana James, as Nanny Ogg, need to explore more ways to draw us in. Pirie Kaufman is a strong presence as the ghost of the dead King Verence and Craig Rooney is enjoyable as the not-so-foolish fool. Ron Bird has some entertaining moments as Duke Felmet – constantly washing his hands — and his duchess wife is played formidably by Taylor Emlaw. Sonya Ostrowski-Masotti, as Hwel, and a deliciously inventive Demon, and Harry Houston, as dim-witted Sergeant, deserve much credit for bringing life to the stage whenever they appear... The Bard barbs and the thespian jokes are welcome, but the theatre group needs to find the colour in the characters, the humour in the dialogue and the magic in the storytelling..."
http://www.saultstar.com/2017/10/25/technical-aspects-impressive-but-witches-hardly-entrance
* THE TRUTH IN ADELAIDE, FOURECKS
Reviewed in Stage Whispers by Kerry Cooper
Director Pamela Munt has assembled a large cast to bring its absurd mix of characters to life in Unseen Theatre Company's production... [Danny] Sag is amusing as the vampire hired to take photos for the paper; his work with flash is quite farcical. Nick Andrews and Paul Messenger play henchmen Mr Pin and Mr Tulip with hilarious results. Their oddball banter, complete with a speech impediment mixed in, equates to plenty of laughs throughout the play. Mr Slant (Pamela Munt), a zombie lawyer, is menacing as the criminal mastermind, but the misdeed is in danger of unravelling when the Lord's dog Wuffles goes missing. Aimee Ford is delightful as anonymous tipster Gaspode, the brains behind the mumbling beggar. The cast do an admirable job playing several roles throughout the play and each change in character is enhanced by well thought-out costumes. The multi-level set is practical and appealing, making use of established doors either side of the performing space. Whether or not you are a fan of Pratchett's work, you will be pleased with the results..."
http://www.stagewhispers.com.au/reviews/truthunseen
...and in The Advertiser by Ewart Shaw
"The arrival of 'fake news' and challenges to the freedom of the press make this Terry Pratchett story remarkable pertinent, and incidentally very funny... Unseen Theatre and founder Pamela Munt have developed a Bakehouse style of versatile performers, with many changes of costume, accent and beard, nipping out of many doorways. There's an energetic sense of improvisation carefully managed for maximum effect. Aimee Ford is Gaspode the talking dog. Hugh O'Connor and Natalie Haigh are William de Worde and Sacharissa Cripslock, accidental publishers of Ankh-Morpork newspaper The Truth, aided by Leighton Jones as Gunilla Goodmountain, dwarf engraver (I mean a dwarf who engraves, not someone who engraves dwarfs. Pratchett fans will understand the confusion). There's great support from the square jawed Mike Shaw as Commander Vimes, with Alicia Rabig as sidekick Angua, David Dyte as Lord de Worde and the man with amusingly shaped root vegetables and Ronald Carney as Drumknott. Danny Sag is outstanding as the vampire press photographer. There's a special mention for Nick Andrews and Paul Messenger as Mr Pin and Mr Tulip, a new firm of bad boys, and producer/director Munt reprises her role as the zombie lawyer Mr Slant. By law, the role of Vetinari can only be played by Philip Lineton, whose quiet authority is a still point in the chaos of the play..."
http://bit.ly/2gYtHEc
...and by Barry Lenny (or possibly Christine Pyman) in Broadway World:
"Mixed in with the concept of population gullibility and manipulation, is the story of the political machinations of special interest groups, and their employment of the epitome of amoral lawyers, Mr. Slant (Pamela Munt), and subsequent outsourcing to hired criminals, Mr. Pin and Mr. Tulip, played by Nick Andrews and Paul Messenger, respectively. This leads into a bit of a whodunit scenario, allowing the glory of the Ankh-Morpork Watch to add to the mayhem. This adaptation, by Stephen Briggs, directed by Pamela Munt, showcased perfectly the talents of the Unseen Theatre actors and stage management. Munt, herself, is perfect as the literally dry as death zombie lawyer, Mr. Slant. From her rolling, dry, crackling voice, to her green skin, she shows the deviousness of the Law, as we all suspect it of actually being. O'Connor's, de Worde, encapsulates the struggles of a wealthy and well brought up young man finding his way, and passion, in the world, against the traditional and very differing views of his family. As someone who is on stage for the majority of the time, he managed to completely have the audience's sympathy for his character... The humour of this story is reliant on many things, and this cast got all of them spot on, from absolute exact timing, intonation, stage direction to something that cannot be pinned down, but comes down to projection of energy of loveable, real, characters... Unseen Theatre Company just keeps on getting better, with its latest offering, The Truth, being the best yet."
http://bit.ly/2A4v4WD
* MORT IN ERITH
By Helen Elisabeth Macdonald aka Girloutside
"Martin Gilby gives a superb performance as Death, taking the character literally in his stride as he glides about the stage, white-faced and sunken-eyed on stilts, swathed in a black cloak, his voice amplified with an eerie, booming effect. He is an absolute sight and sound to behold and his creation is clearly not only a product of the director's vision and his own spot-on interpretation, but a brilliant team effort by Wardrobe (Elizabeth Foster), Props (Sue Newman), Sound (Steve Nash) and Lights (Simon Dinsmore, Adam Davis and Hazel Watts). Mark Fromings as Mort is equally triumphant, bringing the character to life and delighting the audience from the off with his ginger wig and the affable, easy demeanour he brings to all of his roles to make acting look far too easy. Someone remarked it was as though he had stepped straight from the pages of the book. Rebecca Liquorish as Death's daughter, Ysabell, who also becomes Mort's unlikely love interest, also puts in a strong performance as do Roger Butler as Albert, Kate Richardson as Princess Keli and Anthony Denford as Cutwell. They are supported by an excellent ensemble, who not only play five or six roles each but, along with a hard-working backstage crew, act as 'scene-setters', manoeuvring flats to effect a whopping twenty-five seamless changes. Special mention must go to Suzanne Whitnall's spectacular interactive door knocker and Jane Ghost-Cavanagh's insalubrious lady of the night who takes Death's experience of mortal life to another level. Terri McCann's staging is simple, yet effective, interspersed with special light, sound and multimedia effects to create a version of Discworld that visibly delighted the audience. I must say, as a Pratchett novice, I found the story a little difficult to follow at times, but this did not detract from my enjoyment..."
http://girloutside.co.uk/2017/10/16/mort-erith-playhouse-october-2017/
* DODGER IN BIRMINGHAM
...given four stars by Roger Clarke on Behind the Arras:
"Add all the other characters from minor German princes, ladies of the night and Jewish tailors and watchmakers and the play has a population of 56, which rivals audience numbers in the intimate confines of the studio, so directors Roy Palmer and Daniel Robert Beaton have brought it down to a more manageable (a relative term) cast of 25 with plenty of doubling, trebling, and, in one case, quintupling up... we have Esther Roden doing a fine job as Jewish craftsman Solomon Cohen, Dodger's kindly mentor, with a gentle accent and laboured walk, and Jack Heath changing accents and clothes at the drop of a topper, as Disraeli, a dodgy German Prince and the benevolent Mayhew, while Richard Scott weighs in as both engineer Balzalgette and the unfortunate Sweeney Todd, here suffering from battlefield induced PTSD rather than his more usual involvement as a supplier in the pie production business. Daniel Robert Beaton plays Mr Charlie, Dickens to you and me, with the air of a man with his finger on the pulse, making notes for future novels as he goes along, and making it a family affair, his sister Emily Beaton does a fine job as Dodger, giving us a streetwise tosher... like all the doubled-up parts, apart from physical similarities, which are hard to disguise without extensive make up and costume changes, the actors managed to give their different characters different personalities, making the cast look bigger than it is. The whole production is enhanced by excellent period costumes..."
http://bit.ly/2hwyhXd
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05) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
5.1 DISCWORLD.COM NEWS
Some Hogswatch gift suggestions...
* The Discworld Imaginarium!
"Paul Kidby was Sir Terry Pratchett's artist of choice. He provided the illustrations for THE LAST HERO, designed the covers for the Discworld novels since 2002 and is the author of the bestseller THE ART OF THE DISCWORLD and TERRY PRATCHETT'S DISCWORLD COLOURING BOOK. Now, he has collected the very best of his Discworld illustrations in this definitive volume, including 40 pieces of never-before-seen art, 30 pieces that have only appeared in foreign editions, limited editions and Book Club editions, and 17 book cover illustrations since 2004 that have never been seen without cover text."
The Discworld Imaginarium is priced at £35. For more information, and to order, go to:
https://discworld.com/products/bookloversday/terry-pratchetts-discworld-imaginarium/
* The Little Blue Book!
"Launched to celebrate the new exhibition at Salisbury Museum, Terry Pratchett: HisWorld, this collectable book features an introduction by exhibition curator Richard Henry and a guide to some of the Discworld's most memorable characters, all illustrated by Paul Kidby. Text is by Stephen Briggs. An extremely limited print run, this book is available embossed from Discworld.com while stocks last."
The Little Blue Book is priced at £20 plus shipping. For more information, and to order, go to:
https://discworld.com/products/collectables/little-blue-book/
* Tiffany Aching Pendants!
"These beautiful pendants are based on Paul Kidby's illustrations taken from the Tiffany series. We also have the beautiful Tiffany pendant consisting of a clear blue stone, golden bee and a tiny silver shepherd's crown."
For more information, and to order, go to:
https://discworld.com/products/hare-pendants/tiffanys-hare-pendant-silver/
https://discworld.com/products/hare-pendants/tiffanys-hare-pendant/ (gold)
https://discworld.com/products/jewellery-discworld-merchandise/tiffanys-white-horse-pendant/
https://discworld.com/products/characters/tiffanys-necklace/
* Discworld Keyrings
"These Discworld keyrings are the perfect stocking filler... They may prove very helpful in preventing even the most professional of thieves from liberating keys from your pockets…"
Available keyrings are The Luggage, Great A'Tuin, the A-M City Watch, Feeglespotting, Blind Io, Mr Fluffy (Greebo) and Reaperman (Death), and all are priced at £6.99 except for the City Watch keyring (£7.99) and the limited edition Blind Ion keyring (a godly £9.99). For more information, and to order, go to: https://discworld.com/products/keyrings
* Tote Bags!
"Forget the stocking, these totes are perfect to stuff with Discworld goodies. We have three designs to choose from - Death, the Unseen University Crest or one of the last few remaining Terry Memorial totes, printed on 100% cotton material. Each bag measures 34cm wide x 41cm high and can be carried by hand or conveniently slung over the shoulder."
Each tote bag is priced at £8. For more information, and to order, go to: https://discworld.com/products/tote-bags/
* Bookmarks!
A selection of gorgeous 3D bookmarks priced at only £1 each!
https://discworld.com/products/critters/bee-more-terry/
https://discworld.com/products/critters/feegle-sheep/
https://discworld.com/products/critters/hedgehog-can-never-buggered/
* Temporary tattoos!
A brilliant idea at party time! "Unlike a real tattoo, this is guaranteed not to hurt your body or your bank account! Simply rub on with water. Lasts 1 – 5 days, skin safe and non-toxic."
Each temporary tattoo is priced at £2.25. For more information, and to order, go to:
https://discworld.com/products/new/rob-anybody-temporary-tattoo/
https://discworld.com/products/new/great-atuin-temporary-tattoo/
https://discworld.com/products/new/city-watch-crest-temporary-tattoo/
Time left for Christmas orders...
UK: 14 days
Europe, USA, Canada: 10 days
Rest of Roundworld: 4 days
5.2 PAUL KIDBY.COM NEWS
"New limited edition Discworld prints are now available from my website, including my portrait of the much missed Sir Terry."
Prices start at £40. For more information, and to order, go to:
https://shop.paulkidby.com/prints/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
06) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld Group" (motto "Nil percussio est"), will be meeting next from 7pm on Monday 4th December 2017 (Drummers Christmas party) at the Monkey Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London, W2 1JQ. "We welcome anyone and everyone who enjoys Sir Terry's works, or quite likes them or wants to find out more. We have had many visitors from overseas who have enjoyed themselves and made new friends. The discussions do not only concern the works of Sir Terry Pratchett but wander and meander through other genres and authors and also leaping to TV and Film production. We also find time for a quiz."
The Drummers have also taken up doing the odd afternoon meetup. For more information, go to http://brokendrummers.org/ or email BrokenDrummers@gmail.com or nicholls.helen@yahoo.co.uk
*
Canberra, Australia's Discworld fan group is Drumknott's Irregulars: "The group is open to all, people from interstate and overseas are welcome, and our events will not be heavily themed. Come along to dinner for a chat and good company. We welcome people from all fandoms (and none) and we would love to see you at one of our events, even if you're just passing through. Please contact us via Facebook (_https://www.facebook.com/groups/824987924250161/_) or Google Groups (_https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/drumknotts-irregulars_) or join us at our next event."
*
For Facebook users in Fourecks: The Victorian Discworld Klatch is "a social group for fans of Discworld and Terry Pratchett... run by a dedicated team who meet monthly and organise events monthly." "If you'd like to join our events please ask to join the Klatch."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VictorianDiscworldKlatch
*
"The Gathering of the Loonies (Wincanton chapter)" is a public Facebook meeting group: "This group, by request of Jo in Bear will continue to be used for future unofficial (not run by the Emporium) fan Gatherings in Wincanton. Look here for information." Future events will include the Did You Bring a Beer Along meeting (celebrating 20 years of The Last Continent) in April 2018.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/373578522834654/
*
The Pratchett Partisans are a fan group who meet monthly at either Brisbane or Indooroopilly to "eat, drink and chat about all things Pratchett. We hold events such as Discworld dinners, games afternoons, Discworld photo scavenger hunts. We also attend opening night at Brisbane Arts Theatre's Discworld plays." The Partisans currently have about 200 members who meet at least twice a month, usually in Brisbane.
For more info about their next meetup, join up at https://www.facebook.com/groups/pratchettpartisans/ or contact Ula directly at uwilmott@yahoo.com.au
*
The City of Small Gods is a group for fans in Adelaide and South Australia: "We have an established Terry Pratchett & Discworld fan group in Adelaide called The City of Small Gods, which is open to anyone who would like to come – you don't have to live in Adelaide or even South Australia, or even be a Discworld fan, but that's mostly where our events will be held, and we do like discussing Pratchett's works. Our (semi-) regular meetings are generally held on the last Thursday of the month at a pub or restaurant in Adelaide. We have dinner at 6.30pm followed by games until 9pm. The games are usually shorter games like Pairs, Sushi Go, or Tiny Epic Defenders, with the occasional Werewolf session, as these are the best sort of games that work in a pub setting. Every few months, we have a full day's worth of board games at La Scala Cafe, 169 Unley Rd, Unley in the function room starting at 10am. In addition, we will occasionally have other events to go and see plays by Unseen Theatre Company, book discussions, craft, chain maille or costuming workshops or other fun social activities."
The next CoSG events will be the Monthly Dinner and Games at the Caledonian Hotel on 30th November, and the City of Small Gods End of Year Picnic in Tusmore Park on 3rd December.
The CoSG also have another identity. Here's the skinny:
Round World Events SA Inc is a not-for-profit incorporated association whose aim is to run fun social Pratchett-themed events for people in South Australia. Our first major event was the Unseen University Convivium held in July 2012. We have also run three successful and booked out Science Fiction and Fantasy themed quiz nights named Quiz Long And Prosper, in 2013, 2014 and 2015! We are also running the next Australian Discworld Convention, Nullus Anxietas VI – The Discworld Grand Tour – taking place in August 2017. You can find more out about it on this very website (_http://ausdwcon.org/_)! The association will run some events under the City of Small Gods banner, but you do not have to be a Round World Events SA member to be part of City of Small Gods. However, we are always on the look out for new members for Round World Events SA to help us organise future events! Membership is $20 a year (for Adelaide locals) or $5 a year (for those not quite so close) and has the following benefits:
A shiny membership certificate all of your very own
Discounted entry price to some of the events we run
A warm, fuzzy feeling deep down in your chest (no, not quite that deep)
For more information, or to join as a member, please email RoundWorldEventsSA@gmail.com
www.cityofsmallgods.org.au
*
The Broken Vectis Drummers meet next on Thursday 7th December 2017 (probably) from 7.30pm at The Castle pub in Newport, Isle of Wight. For more info and any queries, contact broken_vectis_drummers@yahoo.co.uk
*
The Wincanton Omnian Temperance Society (WOTS) next meets on Friday 1st December 2017 (probably) at Wincanton's famous Bear Inn from 7pm onwards. "Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome!"
*
The Northern Institute of the Ankh-Morpork and District Society of Flatalists, a Pratchett fangroup, has been meeting on a regular basis since 2005. The Flatalists normally meet at The Narrowboat Pub in Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, to discuss "all things Pratchett" as well as having quizzes and raffles. Details of future meetings are posted on the Events section of the Discworld Stamps forum:
http://www.discworldstamps.co.uk/forum/
*
Sydney Drummers (formerly Drummers Downunder) meet next on Monday 4th December 2017 at 6.30pm in Sydney at 3 Wise Monkeys, 555 George Street, Sydney,2000. For more information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax): kenworthys@yahoo.co.uk
*
The Treacle Mining Corporation, formerly known as Perth Drummers, meets next on Monday 4th December 2017 (probably) from 5.30pm at Carpe Cafe, 526 Murray Street, Perth, Western Australia. For details follow Perth Drummers on Twitter @Perth_Drummers or join their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Perth.Drummers/ – or message Alexandra Ware directly at <alexandra.ware@gmail.com>
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
07) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
The stunning "Ankh-Morpork Post Office" wall at the Salisbury Museum's Terry Pratchett: HisWorld exhibit, photographed by Richard Henry:
http://bit.ly/2AzdRZ3
A few iconographs from Hall Green Theatre's recent production of Dodger (see item 4.3):
http://www.behindthearras.com/reviewsam/2017/reviewsAMJul-Sept2017/dodger1.jpg (Dodger and Solomon)
http://www.behindthearras.com/reviewsam/2017/reviewsAMJul-Sept2017/dodger2.jpg (Dodger and Charlie)
http://www.behindthearras.com/reviewsam/2017/reviewsAMJul-Sept2017/dodger3.jpg (Dodger and Simplicity)
Leighton Jones and Hugh O'Connor – with an actual physical copy of the Ankh-Morpork Times! – in Unseen Theatre's 2017 production of The Truth:
http://bit.ly/2z3Rs2r
Some cast photos from the current production of Mort in Western Australia's Roleystone Theatre (see item 4.1):
Mort and Death: http://bit.ly/2k0BYJ6
Cutwell and Keli: http://bit.ly/2A9NpSM
Death and Ysabell: http://bit.ly/2zAV0wE
The well-attended Broken Drummers November 2017 meeting in London:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DN-YcXyWsAEAyFY.jpg
The Royal Librarian gets a banananana!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DN-5W1vX4AEjQry.jpg
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
08) CLOSE
For what it's worth, the rather pricey Little Blue Book (see item 5.1) is a thing of beauty, and I'm glad I bought a copy of it.
Take care, and we'll see you next month...
– Annie Mac
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write: wossname-owner (at) pearwood (dot) info
Copyright (c) 2017 by Klatchian Foreign Legion
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
November 2017 (Volume 20, Issue 11, Post 1)
********************************************************************
WOSSNAME is a free publication offering news, reviews, and all the other stuff-that-fits pertaining to the works of Sir Terry Pratchett. Originally founded by the late, great Joe Schaumburger for members of the worldwide Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North American Discworld Society and other continental groups, Wossname is now for Discworld and Pratchett fans everywhere in Roundworld.
********************************************************************
Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Vera P
Newshounds: Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow, Mss C, Alison not Aliss
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Evil Steven Dread, Mrs Wynn-Jones
Staff Technomancers: Jason Parlevliet, Archchancellor Neil, DJ Helpful
Book Reviews: Annie Mac, Drusilla D'Afanguin, Your Name Here
Puzzle Editor: Tiff (still out there somewhere)
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
Emergency Staff: Steven D'Aprano, Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare time)
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
INDEX:
01) EDITOR'S LETTER
02) GOOD OMENS NEWS
03) ODDS AND SODS
04) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
05) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
06) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
07) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
08) CLOSE
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
01) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
As yet another beacon of the creative arts is extinguished by dementia – this time, Malcolm Young of AC/DC, one of the giants of modern rhythm guitar – it's worth remembering once again how much Sir Terry Pratchett did to advance the cause of research and acceptance of this monstrous illness. In a sensitively written piece in the Financial Times on the "coming out" of Alzheimer's, journalist Sarah Neville does just that:
"Pratchett was different. If illness is a foreign country to all but its reluctant inhabitants, the fantasy writer was the first to send back regular dispatches describing the scenery and topography of a hitherto uncharted condition. Through his speeches and interviews, we discovered that his particular form of the disease affected his ability to process visual information, but not his reasoning nor, crucially, his command of language: the prolific writer's final novel was published almost six months after he had died. Others have followed his example of openness, including Timothy West and Prunella Scales, veteran British actors who described their travels around Europe on canal boats in a weekly television series, despite Scales' advancing dementia. It was less a travelogue than a moving portrait of their long marriage, each episode carrying the subliminal – and in its own way subversive – message that mutual attraction and respect will outlast cognitive decline. For Pratchett, publicly describing his disease had a talismanic power. 'I remember when people died of "a long illness"; now we call cancer by its name, and as every wizard knows, once you have a thing's real name you have the first step to its taming,' he said... Language can have its own deterministic power, as Terry Pratchett noted in his 2008 speech. He said then: 'We are at war with cancer, and we use that vocabulary. We battle, we are brave, we survive. And we have a large armaments industry. For those of us with early-onset [dementia] in particular, it's more of a series of skirmishes.'As Alzheimer's continues to emerge from the shadows, it is time to move on from the skirmishing. We need a war..."
https://www.ft.com/content/37254a02-ced1-11e7-b781-794ce08b24dc
In case you only read online articles as plain text, it's worth noting that one of the photographs in this piece is of Terry Jones and his wife Anna Soderstrom, and it shines with joy and heartbreak: http://on.ft.com/2A3AzXQ
Now then...
– Annie Mac, Editor
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
02) GOOD OMENS NEWS
Casting updates: along with Adria Arjona (Anathema), Nina Sosanya (Sister Mary Loquacious), and Ned Dennehy and Ariyon Bakare (Hastur and Ligur), Josie Lawrence has been cast as Agnes Nutter; Reece Shearsmith as a certain Tudor-era playwright; Anna Maxwell Martin as Beelzebub; Mireille Enos as War; Lourdes Faberes as Pollution, Yusuf Gatewood as Famine... and Nicholas Parsons as the voice of the Creator (no, not Sir Pterry, the *other* one). Neil Gaiman has been quoted as saying he's "hoping that Death will be played by Death"...
...and some iconographs...
This is what extras look like when you have a budget... a couple of iconographs from the current Good Omens shoot, as tweeted by Neil Gaiman:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DKFykwVWkAE2xnc.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DKFyWKUWkAEE77B.jpg
...and an action replay of your Editor's two favourite demons:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJ_mL4DWsAExChI.jpg
Crowley's hair! http://dailym.ai/2y1aWU0
...and his Bentley! http://dailym.ai/2iDWkn4
...and here be Newt Pulsifer (Jack Whitehall) in all his nerdy glory: http://dailym.ai/2zVT1Qh
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
03) ODDS AND SODS
The Terry Pratchett: HisWorld exhibit is rocking Salisbury – and parts much further away. From Spire FM in Salisbury:
"Since it opened in mid September over 10,000 people have visited Salisbury Museum to explore the life of the late Discworld writer. Some fans have come as far as America and Australia to get a glimpse into the Discworld author's life... The highlight for many fans, is without doubt, the replica of his office known as The Chapel. It features the actual desk Sir Terry wrote many of his novels at complete with coffee cup stains and even his spectacles. Such has been the popularity of the exhibition that Salisbury Museum has now extended its opening times to include Sundays..."
https://www.spirefm.co.uk/news/local-news/2424748/10000-pratchett-fans-visit-salisbury-for-exhibition/
*
Also rocking – Paul Kidby's greatest Discworld hits. Well, a fine selection of them at any rate. Here be a picture post in The Guardian, with comments on each image by the artist. Beautiful stuff:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/gallery/2017/nov/22/the-art-of-terry-pratchetts-discworld-in-pictures
*
It turns out there *is* some orangutan news too interesting to resist sharing: a new species of our favourite orange ape, the Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) has been discovered in Indonesia! "This is the first new species of great ape described since the bonobo from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1929. With fewer than 800 left in the wild, the Tapanuli orangutan is now one of the world's most endangered great ape species... the Tapanuli orangutan is in fact more closely related to the Bornean orangutan than it is to the Sumatran orangutans that live to its north, north of Lake Toba. The three orangutans—Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli—evolved from a common ancestor about 3.4 million years ago..." Read the entire press release, with photos of this lovely species, here: http://bit.ly/2zrM5ga
There is also a short video at https://twitter.com/Global_Wildlife/status/926118662758572032 about the current threat to these apes' environment.
*
There's a drive on to restore the Cosgrove Hall hand-puppets used in the making of their classic stop-motion animated shows, including Truckers:
"Sixty percent of the latex puppets, including characters from The Wind in the Willows, are 'at serious risk'. And 20% are past saving, according to Westley Wood, a former Cosgrove Hall employee who has rescued the treasure trove. Cosgrove Hall also made such classic shows as Danger Mouse, Count Duckula, Terry Pratchett's Truckers and Noddy's Toyland Adventures. But its characters were put into storage when the studio shut in 2009. Some of the better-preserved items of memorabilia are now going on display in an exhibition at the Waterside Arts Centre in Sale, Manchester. According to Wood, the hand-drawn acetate cells used to animate the likes of Danger Mouse and Count Duckula have lasted well. But the 3D puppets that were employed in stop-motion animations have deteriorated with age, with parts of the latex falling off some to expose the steel skeletons beneath... The archive has been awarded a £42,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with contributions from Sale Waterside and Arts Council England taking the fund over £50,000. But that won't stretch to restoring the hundreds of items..."
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-41692864
*
The perspicacious Mark Hughes Cobb of the Tuscaloosa News returns with a plea to Team Good Omens:
"Who else trembles with something other than anticipation when they hear a favorite book is being interpreted into a movie or TV series? Thought so. Any attempt to list art that's been churned into gruel by Hollywood would fill far more than this newspaper... It's more likely a great movie derives from a bad or forgettable novel, because visual and aural magic can storm the castle, bypass logic and craft miracles in the mind... Some of filmdom's most-loved faces stem from pulp fiction: Tarzan, James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, Jason Bourne, Moses ... Kidding, kidding. Philip K. Dick's oeuvre became cinematic legend, because directors such as Spielberg and Ridley Scott saw potential in stories that became 'Blade Runner' and 'Minority Report'... Hope springs infernal from BBC2's mini-series adaptation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's apocalypse-averted novel 'Good Omens,' as happy news continues to roll in, slapping pessimism silly. Or role in: The casting started with David Tennant (best of the modern-era 'Doctor Who' incarnations) as not-so-demonic Crowley, and Michael Sheen as mild but not to be messed with Aziraphale. And the rest are no slouches: Jon Hamm as the Archangel Gabriel, Michael McKean as twitchy witchfinder Shadwell and Miranda Richardson as Madame Tracy..."
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20171102/mark-hughes-cobb-dont-botch-book-again
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
04) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
4.0 AUDITIONS
* WYRD SISTERS IN WEST SUSSEX
The Ifield Barn Theatre Society will be holding two open auditions for their March 2018 staging of Wyrd Sisters.
When: 11th and 18th December 2017
Venue: Ifield Barn Theatre, Ifield Street, Ifield, W Sussex RH11 0NN
Time: 8pm both days
Note: all cast members chosen must be available for all the performances (7th through 10th March), including a Saturday matinee.
Contact Janine Robins on 07747 662008
http://www.ifieldbarn.co.uk/auditions.html
4.1 PLAYS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
* MORT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA (NOVEMBER/DECEMBER)
Roleystone Theatre, "a non-for-profit community group managed entirely by volunteers", are in the midst of their current production of Mort!
When: remaining shows are on 29th November and 1st and 2nd December 2017
Venue: Roleystone Theatre, 587 Brookton Hwy, Roleystone, Western Australia
Time: 8pm all shows
Tickets: $20 ($15 u-18's/Pensioners; 10 tickets bought receives an 11th free), which will be available for purchase via https://www.roleystonetheatre.com.au/web/Coming%20Attractions
https://www.roleystonetheatre.com.au/
* MORT IN LEICESTER (DECEMBER)
Leicester University Theatre will stage their production of Mort next month!
When: 6th-9th December 2017
Venue: Queen's Hall, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH
Time: doors open 7.30pm for all shows: "Audience are expected to have arrived by 7:20pm. If you have reserved but not paid for tickets, we reserve the right to reallocate tickets on a first come first served basis on the door if you do not arrive by this time. "
Tickets: £8 (members £4; concessions £5). To reserve tickets, go to http://bit.ly/2AdNiWa and fill in the relevant parts of the form
http://su-lutheatre.wixsite.com/lutheatre/productions
https://www.facebook.com/LUTheatre/
* LORDS AND LADIES IN NORWICH (DECEMBER)
The Youth Theatre Company will present their production of the Irana Brown adaptation of Lords and Ladies in December.
When: Thursday 14th – Saturday 16th December 2017
Venue: Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, Norwich NR2 1RL
Time: 7.30pm all shows (includes audio described performance on the 16th)
Tickets: £10 (jobseeker/over 60 £8.50) plus £1.20 per order for Postage and Packaging. To purchase tickets, go to http://bit.ly/2gemJKI and select your desired date.
https://secure.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk/Online/
4.2 PLAYS IN 2018
MORT IN STAFFORDSHIRE (JANUARY 2018)
The Tower Players return next year with a new Discworld production! Director Andy Moseley writes:
Having had only a brief cameo in 2012's Wyrd Sisters, Tower Players are putting everyone's favourite anthropomorphic personification front and centre in their new production of Mort. This is Tower Players' second outing to the second hand set of dimensions that is home to Discworld, following their highly commended staging of Wyrd Sisters in 2012.
Stephen Briggs' adaptation brings to life this humorous tale that tackles classic themes of unrequited young love, the nature of mortality and the impulsive, hormone driven disruption of the entire history of the future.
Book your tickets now for a great night in the company of Princesses, Wizards, hormonal teenagers and the most efficient short order cook ever to grace the kitchen of Harga's House of Ribs!
Tell your families. Tell your friends. Tell your enemies. Tell your colleagues. Tell the person sat next to you on the tube/train/bus. Tell your taxi driver. Tell random strangers in the street. Tell everyone!!
When: 11th-13th January 2018
Venue: Prince of Wales Centre, Church Street, Cannock, Staffs WS11 1DE
Time: TBA
Tickets: £12, available from the Box Office (01543 578 762) or online at https://boxoffice.wlct.org/event_description.aspx?eventid=655
If you have further enquiries, contact towerplayers@live.com
* MASKERADE IN READING (JANUARY 2018)
The Progress Theatre will be staging their production of Maskerade in January next year.
When: 18th–27th January 2018
Venue: Progress Theatre, The Mount, Reading RG1 5HL
Time: 7.45pm all evening shows, 2.30pm matinees on 20th and 27th January
Tickets: TBA
http://progresstheatre.co.uk/maskerade
* MEN AT ARMS IN BERKSHIRE *RESCHEDULED* (FEBRUARY 2018)
The Cranbourne Amateur Dramatic Society (CADS) have rescheduled their production of Men at Arms to February 2018:
"The Ankh-Morpork City Night Watch find their services are once more needed to tackle a threat to their city. A threat at least as deadly as a 60-foot dragon, but mechanical and heartless to boot. It kills without compunction. It is the first gun on the Discworld. The original Watch – Captain Vimes, Sergeant Colon, Corporal Carrot and Corporal Nobbs – are joined by some new recruits, selected to reflect the city's ethnic make-up – Lance-constables Cuddy, Detritus, and Angua. In a city, where Assassins are clowning about and Fools are dying, the Watch must keep control of themselves as much as its citizens."
When: 15th, 16th and 17th February 2018
Venue: St Peter's Church Hall, Hatchet Lane, Cranbourne, Winkfield, Berks SL4 2EG
Time: 7.45pm all evening shows, with a 2.30pm matinee on the 17th
Tickets: £9, available from the Box Office (phone 01344 886456) or by printing and posting a facsimile of the Booking Form below.
A rather adorable promotional video can be seen here (just remember to ignore the October performance dates at the end):
https://youtu.be/Dx_ndpHGevw
www.cadsact.org.uk/shows/
* MONSTROUS REGIMENT IN GEORGIA USA (FEBRUARY 2018)
Gainesville Theatre Alliance's 2017-2018 season will feature their production of Monstrous Regiment in a "February Festival of Theatre". "GTA is a nationally acclaimed collaboration of the University of North Georgia, Brenau University, theatre professionals and the northeast Georgia community that has yielded state and national awards."
When: 16th–24th February 2018
Venue: UNG-Gainesville's Ed Cabell Theatre, 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood, GA
Time: 7:30pm evening shows on the 16th, 18th, 20th-24th, and 2:30pm matinees on the 17th & 24th
Tickets: $18-20 for adults, $16-18 for seniors and $12-14 for students, depending on seat location, available from www.gainesvilleTHEATREalliance.org or by phoning the Box Office at 678 717 3624. NOTE: by early August, 97 percent of the GTA performances were sold out. "Theater-goers may purchase tickets to one show or all five. They also may build their own custom ticket package, earning discounts for two shows or more."
http://blog.ung.edu/gta/performances/index/
http://blog.ung.edu/gta/performances/tickets/
* MASKERADE IN YORK (FEBRUARY 2018)
We Are Theatre's next Discworld play will be the Stephen Briggs adaptation of Maskerade!
When: 26th–28th Feb 2018
Venue: The Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PR
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £10, bookable by phoning 07521 364107 (note that there is only limited seating available)
http://www.wearetheatre.co.uk/upcoming-productions.html
* WYRD SISTERS IN IFIELD, WEST SUSSEX (MARCH 2018)
The Ifield Barn Theatre Society are gearing up for their production of Wyrd Sisters in March.
When: 7th–10th March 2018
Venue: Ifield Barn Theatre, Ifield Street, Crawley, W Sussex RH110NN
Time: 8pm all evening shows, plus a 3pm matinee on 10th March
Tickets: £10 (£8 for members and children), available from http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ifieldbarntheatre
http://www.ifieldbarn.co.uk/coming-soon.html
* GUARDS! GUARDS! IN CHORLEY (APRIL 2018)
CADOS (possibly once the Chorley and District Operatic Society?) will be staging Guards! Guards! in April: "This production marks what would have been Sir Terry's 70th birthday."
When: 23rd–28th April 2018
Venue: Chorley Little Theatre, Dole Lane, Chorley, Lancs PR7 2RL
Time: 7:30pm all shows
Tickets: 23rd, 24th, 25th £8; 26th, 27th, 28th £10, available online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/208113 or in person at Malcom's Musicland 01257 264362 or Ebb & Flo Bookshop or when the Theatre Box Office is open for shows.
http://www.chorleylittletheatre.com/chorleytheatre/index.php/event/552-cados-play
Editor's note: the theatre itself is absolutely adorable! Look:
http://www.chorleylittletheatre.com/chorleytheatre/images/ChorleyLittleTheatre1.jpg
* MORT IN BIRKENHEAD (APRIL 2018)
The Carlton Players will be staging Mort next April: "He gets board and lodging and free use of company horse, and doesn't even need time off for his grandmother's funeral..."
When: 24th–28th April 2018
Venue: The Little Theatre, Grange Rd West, Birkenhead CH41 4BY
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £8 (students and under-16s £6), available from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/venue/FEDIFI or by ringing the box office on 0151 647 6593
https://www.carltonlittletheatre.co.uk/the-carlton-players/2017-18-season/mort/
* GUARDS! GUARDS! IN PLYMOUTH (MAY 2018)
City College Plymouth will be staging their production of Guards! Guards! in May 2018.
When: 16th–18th May 2018
Venue: Tilt Theatre, Performing Arts, City College Plymouth, Plymouth
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: TBA
https://allevents.in/plymouth/guards-guards-by-terry-pratchett/1943260799295027
* MEN AT ARMS IN BRISBANE, FOURECKS (OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018)
It will be a bit of a wait, but the Brisbane Arts Centre's next Discworld production – Men at Arms – is already looking good! All props to Fourecks for keeping the Disc alive on stage:
"Men at Arms is the 15th novel in Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, a comic fantasy universe with over 80 million books sold worldwide. Aficionados and newcomers to the Disc will love this adaptation, brought to life by the expertise of our Pratchett team."
When: 6th October through 3rd November 2018
Venue: Brisbane Arts Centre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Petrie Terrace (yes, the suburb and the road share a name), Brisbane, Queensland 4000
Time: 7.30pm Thursdays, 8.00pm Fridays and Saturdays, 6.30pm Sundays. "Doors close 5 minutes prior to performance. Late entry is not permitted."
Tickets: AU$34 ($28 concession or groups of 10 or more), available now online at http://bit.ly/2zHKO5a – and there will be Student Rush tickets priced at $15, available from the box office 15 minutes prior to curtain on the dates
https://www.artstheatre.com.au/menatarms
4.3 REVIEWS
* WYRD SISTERS IN ONTARIO, CANADA
By Robin Waples in the Sault Star:
"Director Richard Karhu does well with managing the technical aspects of the challenging piece, including a zillion scene changes, but he hasn't succeeded in bringing us the magic, which is so essential to this type of play. There is very little movement, the actors – with some exceptions - stand in a row and deliver lines in an uninspired fashion, dialogue with humour is understated, energy and pacing is lacking and, in general, there is no sense of playfulness... The witches are central to keeping us engaged, but there is surprisingly little effort here to make them interesting. Calista Jones, as young witch Magrat, does her best to lend her character some spunk, but Susanne Bugyra, as Granny Weatherwax, and Diana James, as Nanny Ogg, need to explore more ways to draw us in. Pirie Kaufman is a strong presence as the ghost of the dead King Verence and Craig Rooney is enjoyable as the not-so-foolish fool. Ron Bird has some entertaining moments as Duke Felmet – constantly washing his hands — and his duchess wife is played formidably by Taylor Emlaw. Sonya Ostrowski-Masotti, as Hwel, and a deliciously inventive Demon, and Harry Houston, as dim-witted Sergeant, deserve much credit for bringing life to the stage whenever they appear... The Bard barbs and the thespian jokes are welcome, but the theatre group needs to find the colour in the characters, the humour in the dialogue and the magic in the storytelling..."
http://www.saultstar.com/2017/10/25/technical-aspects-impressive-but-witches-hardly-entrance
* THE TRUTH IN ADELAIDE, FOURECKS
Reviewed in Stage Whispers by Kerry Cooper
Director Pamela Munt has assembled a large cast to bring its absurd mix of characters to life in Unseen Theatre Company's production... [Danny] Sag is amusing as the vampire hired to take photos for the paper; his work with flash is quite farcical. Nick Andrews and Paul Messenger play henchmen Mr Pin and Mr Tulip with hilarious results. Their oddball banter, complete with a speech impediment mixed in, equates to plenty of laughs throughout the play. Mr Slant (Pamela Munt), a zombie lawyer, is menacing as the criminal mastermind, but the misdeed is in danger of unravelling when the Lord's dog Wuffles goes missing. Aimee Ford is delightful as anonymous tipster Gaspode, the brains behind the mumbling beggar. The cast do an admirable job playing several roles throughout the play and each change in character is enhanced by well thought-out costumes. The multi-level set is practical and appealing, making use of established doors either side of the performing space. Whether or not you are a fan of Pratchett's work, you will be pleased with the results..."
http://www.stagewhispers.com.au/reviews/truthunseen
...and in The Advertiser by Ewart Shaw
"The arrival of 'fake news' and challenges to the freedom of the press make this Terry Pratchett story remarkable pertinent, and incidentally very funny... Unseen Theatre and founder Pamela Munt have developed a Bakehouse style of versatile performers, with many changes of costume, accent and beard, nipping out of many doorways. There's an energetic sense of improvisation carefully managed for maximum effect. Aimee Ford is Gaspode the talking dog. Hugh O'Connor and Natalie Haigh are William de Worde and Sacharissa Cripslock, accidental publishers of Ankh-Morpork newspaper The Truth, aided by Leighton Jones as Gunilla Goodmountain, dwarf engraver (I mean a dwarf who engraves, not someone who engraves dwarfs. Pratchett fans will understand the confusion). There's great support from the square jawed Mike Shaw as Commander Vimes, with Alicia Rabig as sidekick Angua, David Dyte as Lord de Worde and the man with amusingly shaped root vegetables and Ronald Carney as Drumknott. Danny Sag is outstanding as the vampire press photographer. There's a special mention for Nick Andrews and Paul Messenger as Mr Pin and Mr Tulip, a new firm of bad boys, and producer/director Munt reprises her role as the zombie lawyer Mr Slant. By law, the role of Vetinari can only be played by Philip Lineton, whose quiet authority is a still point in the chaos of the play..."
http://bit.ly/2gYtHEc
...and by Barry Lenny (or possibly Christine Pyman) in Broadway World:
"Mixed in with the concept of population gullibility and manipulation, is the story of the political machinations of special interest groups, and their employment of the epitome of amoral lawyers, Mr. Slant (Pamela Munt), and subsequent outsourcing to hired criminals, Mr. Pin and Mr. Tulip, played by Nick Andrews and Paul Messenger, respectively. This leads into a bit of a whodunit scenario, allowing the glory of the Ankh-Morpork Watch to add to the mayhem. This adaptation, by Stephen Briggs, directed by Pamela Munt, showcased perfectly the talents of the Unseen Theatre actors and stage management. Munt, herself, is perfect as the literally dry as death zombie lawyer, Mr. Slant. From her rolling, dry, crackling voice, to her green skin, she shows the deviousness of the Law, as we all suspect it of actually being. O'Connor's, de Worde, encapsulates the struggles of a wealthy and well brought up young man finding his way, and passion, in the world, against the traditional and very differing views of his family. As someone who is on stage for the majority of the time, he managed to completely have the audience's sympathy for his character... The humour of this story is reliant on many things, and this cast got all of them spot on, from absolute exact timing, intonation, stage direction to something that cannot be pinned down, but comes down to projection of energy of loveable, real, characters... Unseen Theatre Company just keeps on getting better, with its latest offering, The Truth, being the best yet."
http://bit.ly/2A4v4WD
* MORT IN ERITH
By Helen Elisabeth Macdonald aka Girloutside
"Martin Gilby gives a superb performance as Death, taking the character literally in his stride as he glides about the stage, white-faced and sunken-eyed on stilts, swathed in a black cloak, his voice amplified with an eerie, booming effect. He is an absolute sight and sound to behold and his creation is clearly not only a product of the director's vision and his own spot-on interpretation, but a brilliant team effort by Wardrobe (Elizabeth Foster), Props (Sue Newman), Sound (Steve Nash) and Lights (Simon Dinsmore, Adam Davis and Hazel Watts). Mark Fromings as Mort is equally triumphant, bringing the character to life and delighting the audience from the off with his ginger wig and the affable, easy demeanour he brings to all of his roles to make acting look far too easy. Someone remarked it was as though he had stepped straight from the pages of the book. Rebecca Liquorish as Death's daughter, Ysabell, who also becomes Mort's unlikely love interest, also puts in a strong performance as do Roger Butler as Albert, Kate Richardson as Princess Keli and Anthony Denford as Cutwell. They are supported by an excellent ensemble, who not only play five or six roles each but, along with a hard-working backstage crew, act as 'scene-setters', manoeuvring flats to effect a whopping twenty-five seamless changes. Special mention must go to Suzanne Whitnall's spectacular interactive door knocker and Jane Ghost-Cavanagh's insalubrious lady of the night who takes Death's experience of mortal life to another level. Terri McCann's staging is simple, yet effective, interspersed with special light, sound and multimedia effects to create a version of Discworld that visibly delighted the audience. I must say, as a Pratchett novice, I found the story a little difficult to follow at times, but this did not detract from my enjoyment..."
http://girloutside.co.uk/2017/10/16/mort-erith-playhouse-october-2017/
* DODGER IN BIRMINGHAM
...given four stars by Roger Clarke on Behind the Arras:
"Add all the other characters from minor German princes, ladies of the night and Jewish tailors and watchmakers and the play has a population of 56, which rivals audience numbers in the intimate confines of the studio, so directors Roy Palmer and Daniel Robert Beaton have brought it down to a more manageable (a relative term) cast of 25 with plenty of doubling, trebling, and, in one case, quintupling up... we have Esther Roden doing a fine job as Jewish craftsman Solomon Cohen, Dodger's kindly mentor, with a gentle accent and laboured walk, and Jack Heath changing accents and clothes at the drop of a topper, as Disraeli, a dodgy German Prince and the benevolent Mayhew, while Richard Scott weighs in as both engineer Balzalgette and the unfortunate Sweeney Todd, here suffering from battlefield induced PTSD rather than his more usual involvement as a supplier in the pie production business. Daniel Robert Beaton plays Mr Charlie, Dickens to you and me, with the air of a man with his finger on the pulse, making notes for future novels as he goes along, and making it a family affair, his sister Emily Beaton does a fine job as Dodger, giving us a streetwise tosher... like all the doubled-up parts, apart from physical similarities, which are hard to disguise without extensive make up and costume changes, the actors managed to give their different characters different personalities, making the cast look bigger than it is. The whole production is enhanced by excellent period costumes..."
http://bit.ly/2hwyhXd
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05) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
5.1 DISCWORLD.COM NEWS
Some Hogswatch gift suggestions...
* The Discworld Imaginarium!
"Paul Kidby was Sir Terry Pratchett's artist of choice. He provided the illustrations for THE LAST HERO, designed the covers for the Discworld novels since 2002 and is the author of the bestseller THE ART OF THE DISCWORLD and TERRY PRATCHETT'S DISCWORLD COLOURING BOOK. Now, he has collected the very best of his Discworld illustrations in this definitive volume, including 40 pieces of never-before-seen art, 30 pieces that have only appeared in foreign editions, limited editions and Book Club editions, and 17 book cover illustrations since 2004 that have never been seen without cover text."
The Discworld Imaginarium is priced at £35. For more information, and to order, go to:
https://discworld.com/products/bookloversday/terry-pratchetts-discworld-imaginarium/
* The Little Blue Book!
"Launched to celebrate the new exhibition at Salisbury Museum, Terry Pratchett: HisWorld, this collectable book features an introduction by exhibition curator Richard Henry and a guide to some of the Discworld's most memorable characters, all illustrated by Paul Kidby. Text is by Stephen Briggs. An extremely limited print run, this book is available embossed from Discworld.com while stocks last."
The Little Blue Book is priced at £20 plus shipping. For more information, and to order, go to:
https://discworld.com/products/collectables/little-blue-book/
* Tiffany Aching Pendants!
"These beautiful pendants are based on Paul Kidby's illustrations taken from the Tiffany series. We also have the beautiful Tiffany pendant consisting of a clear blue stone, golden bee and a tiny silver shepherd's crown."
For more information, and to order, go to:
https://discworld.com/products/hare-pendants/tiffanys-hare-pendant-silver/
https://discworld.com/products/hare-pendants/tiffanys-hare-pendant/ (gold)
https://discworld.com/products/jewellery-discworld-merchandise/tiffanys-white-horse-pendant/
https://discworld.com/products/characters/tiffanys-necklace/
* Discworld Keyrings
"These Discworld keyrings are the perfect stocking filler... They may prove very helpful in preventing even the most professional of thieves from liberating keys from your pockets…"
Available keyrings are The Luggage, Great A'Tuin, the A-M City Watch, Feeglespotting, Blind Io, Mr Fluffy (Greebo) and Reaperman (Death), and all are priced at £6.99 except for the City Watch keyring (£7.99) and the limited edition Blind Ion keyring (a godly £9.99). For more information, and to order, go to: https://discworld.com/products/keyrings
* Tote Bags!
"Forget the stocking, these totes are perfect to stuff with Discworld goodies. We have three designs to choose from - Death, the Unseen University Crest or one of the last few remaining Terry Memorial totes, printed on 100% cotton material. Each bag measures 34cm wide x 41cm high and can be carried by hand or conveniently slung over the shoulder."
Each tote bag is priced at £8. For more information, and to order, go to: https://discworld.com/products/tote-bags/
* Bookmarks!
A selection of gorgeous 3D bookmarks priced at only £1 each!
https://discworld.com/products/critters/bee-more-terry/
https://discworld.com/products/critters/feegle-sheep/
https://discworld.com/products/critters/hedgehog-can-never-buggered/
* Temporary tattoos!
A brilliant idea at party time! "Unlike a real tattoo, this is guaranteed not to hurt your body or your bank account! Simply rub on with water. Lasts 1 – 5 days, skin safe and non-toxic."
Each temporary tattoo is priced at £2.25. For more information, and to order, go to:
https://discworld.com/products/new/rob-anybody-temporary-tattoo/
https://discworld.com/products/new/great-atuin-temporary-tattoo/
https://discworld.com/products/new/city-watch-crest-temporary-tattoo/
Time left for Christmas orders...
UK: 14 days
Europe, USA, Canada: 10 days
Rest of Roundworld: 4 days
5.2 PAUL KIDBY.COM NEWS
"New limited edition Discworld prints are now available from my website, including my portrait of the much missed Sir Terry."
Prices start at £40. For more information, and to order, go to:
https://shop.paulkidby.com/prints/
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06) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld Group" (motto "Nil percussio est"), will be meeting next from 7pm on Monday 4th December 2017 (Drummers Christmas party) at the Monkey Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London, W2 1JQ. "We welcome anyone and everyone who enjoys Sir Terry's works, or quite likes them or wants to find out more. We have had many visitors from overseas who have enjoyed themselves and made new friends. The discussions do not only concern the works of Sir Terry Pratchett but wander and meander through other genres and authors and also leaping to TV and Film production. We also find time for a quiz."
The Drummers have also taken up doing the odd afternoon meetup. For more information, go to http://brokendrummers.org/ or email BrokenDrummers@gmail.com or nicholls.helen@yahoo.co.uk
*
Canberra, Australia's Discworld fan group is Drumknott's Irregulars: "The group is open to all, people from interstate and overseas are welcome, and our events will not be heavily themed. Come along to dinner for a chat and good company. We welcome people from all fandoms (and none) and we would love to see you at one of our events, even if you're just passing through. Please contact us via Facebook (_https://www.facebook.com/groups/824987924250161/_) or Google Groups (_https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/drumknotts-irregulars_) or join us at our next event."
*
For Facebook users in Fourecks: The Victorian Discworld Klatch is "a social group for fans of Discworld and Terry Pratchett... run by a dedicated team who meet monthly and organise events monthly." "If you'd like to join our events please ask to join the Klatch."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VictorianDiscworldKlatch
*
"The Gathering of the Loonies (Wincanton chapter)" is a public Facebook meeting group: "This group, by request of Jo in Bear will continue to be used for future unofficial (not run by the Emporium) fan Gatherings in Wincanton. Look here for information." Future events will include the Did You Bring a Beer Along meeting (celebrating 20 years of The Last Continent) in April 2018.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/373578522834654/
*
The Pratchett Partisans are a fan group who meet monthly at either Brisbane or Indooroopilly to "eat, drink and chat about all things Pratchett. We hold events such as Discworld dinners, games afternoons, Discworld photo scavenger hunts. We also attend opening night at Brisbane Arts Theatre's Discworld plays." The Partisans currently have about 200 members who meet at least twice a month, usually in Brisbane.
For more info about their next meetup, join up at https://www.facebook.com/groups/pratchettpartisans/ or contact Ula directly at uwilmott@yahoo.com.au
*
The City of Small Gods is a group for fans in Adelaide and South Australia: "We have an established Terry Pratchett & Discworld fan group in Adelaide called The City of Small Gods, which is open to anyone who would like to come – you don't have to live in Adelaide or even South Australia, or even be a Discworld fan, but that's mostly where our events will be held, and we do like discussing Pratchett's works. Our (semi-) regular meetings are generally held on the last Thursday of the month at a pub or restaurant in Adelaide. We have dinner at 6.30pm followed by games until 9pm. The games are usually shorter games like Pairs, Sushi Go, or Tiny Epic Defenders, with the occasional Werewolf session, as these are the best sort of games that work in a pub setting. Every few months, we have a full day's worth of board games at La Scala Cafe, 169 Unley Rd, Unley in the function room starting at 10am. In addition, we will occasionally have other events to go and see plays by Unseen Theatre Company, book discussions, craft, chain maille or costuming workshops or other fun social activities."
The next CoSG events will be the Monthly Dinner and Games at the Caledonian Hotel on 30th November, and the City of Small Gods End of Year Picnic in Tusmore Park on 3rd December.
The CoSG also have another identity. Here's the skinny:
Round World Events SA Inc is a not-for-profit incorporated association whose aim is to run fun social Pratchett-themed events for people in South Australia. Our first major event was the Unseen University Convivium held in July 2012. We have also run three successful and booked out Science Fiction and Fantasy themed quiz nights named Quiz Long And Prosper, in 2013, 2014 and 2015! We are also running the next Australian Discworld Convention, Nullus Anxietas VI – The Discworld Grand Tour – taking place in August 2017. You can find more out about it on this very website (_http://ausdwcon.org/_)! The association will run some events under the City of Small Gods banner, but you do not have to be a Round World Events SA member to be part of City of Small Gods. However, we are always on the look out for new members for Round World Events SA to help us organise future events! Membership is $20 a year (for Adelaide locals) or $5 a year (for those not quite so close) and has the following benefits:
A shiny membership certificate all of your very own
Discounted entry price to some of the events we run
A warm, fuzzy feeling deep down in your chest (no, not quite that deep)
For more information, or to join as a member, please email RoundWorldEventsSA@gmail.com
www.cityofsmallgods.org.au
*
The Broken Vectis Drummers meet next on Thursday 7th December 2017 (probably) from 7.30pm at The Castle pub in Newport, Isle of Wight. For more info and any queries, contact broken_vectis_drummers@yahoo.co.uk
*
The Wincanton Omnian Temperance Society (WOTS) next meets on Friday 1st December 2017 (probably) at Wincanton's famous Bear Inn from 7pm onwards. "Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome!"
*
The Northern Institute of the Ankh-Morpork and District Society of Flatalists, a Pratchett fangroup, has been meeting on a regular basis since 2005. The Flatalists normally meet at The Narrowboat Pub in Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, to discuss "all things Pratchett" as well as having quizzes and raffles. Details of future meetings are posted on the Events section of the Discworld Stamps forum:
http://www.discworldstamps.co.uk/forum/
*
Sydney Drummers (formerly Drummers Downunder) meet next on Monday 4th December 2017 at 6.30pm in Sydney at 3 Wise Monkeys, 555 George Street, Sydney,2000. For more information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax): kenworthys@yahoo.co.uk
*
The Treacle Mining Corporation, formerly known as Perth Drummers, meets next on Monday 4th December 2017 (probably) from 5.30pm at Carpe Cafe, 526 Murray Street, Perth, Western Australia. For details follow Perth Drummers on Twitter @Perth_Drummers or join their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Perth.Drummers/ – or message Alexandra Ware directly at <alexandra.ware@gmail.com>
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
07) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
The stunning "Ankh-Morpork Post Office" wall at the Salisbury Museum's Terry Pratchett: HisWorld exhibit, photographed by Richard Henry:
http://bit.ly/2AzdRZ3
A few iconographs from Hall Green Theatre's recent production of Dodger (see item 4.3):
http://www.behindthearras.com/reviewsam/2017/reviewsAMJul-Sept2017/dodger1.jpg (Dodger and Solomon)
http://www.behindthearras.com/reviewsam/2017/reviewsAMJul-Sept2017/dodger2.jpg (Dodger and Charlie)
http://www.behindthearras.com/reviewsam/2017/reviewsAMJul-Sept2017/dodger3.jpg (Dodger and Simplicity)
Leighton Jones and Hugh O'Connor – with an actual physical copy of the Ankh-Morpork Times! – in Unseen Theatre's 2017 production of The Truth:
http://bit.ly/2z3Rs2r
Some cast photos from the current production of Mort in Western Australia's Roleystone Theatre (see item 4.1):
Mort and Death: http://bit.ly/2k0BYJ6
Cutwell and Keli: http://bit.ly/2A9NpSM
Death and Ysabell: http://bit.ly/2zAV0wE
The well-attended Broken Drummers November 2017 meeting in London:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DN-YcXyWsAEAyFY.jpg
The Royal Librarian gets a banananana!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DN-5W1vX4AEjQry.jpg
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08) CLOSE
For what it's worth, the rather pricey Little Blue Book (see item 5.1) is a thing of beauty, and I'm glad I bought a copy of it.
Take care, and we'll see you next month...
– Annie Mac
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write: wossname-owner (at) pearwood (dot) info
Copyright (c) 2017 by Klatchian Foreign Legion
