Wossname -- November 2017 -- main issue

[News and reviews about the works of Sir Terry Pratchett]

Wossname
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.
********************************************************************

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

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

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 at 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 Bazalgette 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

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

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 at gmail.com or nicholls.helen at 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 at 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 at 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 at 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 at 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 at 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

This issue can be viewed on the clacks at 
https://wossname.dreamwidth.org/60592.html

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The End. If you have any questions or requests, write: wossname-owner 
(at) pearwood (dot) info

Copyright (c) 2017 by Klatchian Foreign Legion