Welcome Welcome to our production of Terry Pratchett’s ‘Wyrd Sisters’. This play was not originally on our schedule for this

year, but when we were unable to fully cast The Winslow Boy, we thought a nod to one of our favourite authors would

be appropriate, especially as Terry Pratchett sadly passed away this year. We knew we had many members keen to get

involved, paid our rights fee to the Orangutan Sanctuary, and got started!

We would like to thank all the cast and crew members for their hard work - especially as we were working with a

reduced rehearsal period. Thanks especially must be said to Claire Cooper, who helped slot all the jigsaw pieces

together.

For those unfamiliar with Discworld, the fantasy setting of many of Terry Pratchett’s novels, here’s what you need to

know.

Discworld is a flat disc balanced on the backs of four elephants which in turn stand on the back of a giant

turtle, Great A'Tuin. The books frequently parody or take inspiration from J. R. R. Tolkien, H. P. Lovecraft and

William Shakespeare, as well as mythology, folklore and fairy tales, often using them for satirical parallels with

current cultural, political and scientific issues. The series is popular, with more than 80 million books sold in 37

languages.

Forty one Discworld novels have been published, many adapted into plays. This is the second Pratchett play

performed by the Watlington Players, the first being ‘Mort’ back in 2003.

We hope you enjoy the show, regardless of whether you are a long-term Pratchett fan or a newcomer to his

crazy world.

Matt Kerslake (Chairman)

Synopsis 'Wyrd Sisters' is Terry Pratchett's sixth Discworld novel, published in 1988, and re-introduces Granny Weatherwax of

'Equal Rites'. Along with Granny Weatherwax, Wyrd Sisters features Nanny Ogg, matriarch of a large tribe of Oggs,

who owns the most evil cat in the world, (Greebo); and Magrat Garlick, the junior witch, who firmly believes in

occult jewellery, covens and bubbling cauldrons, much to the annoyance of Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg.

King Verence I of Lancre is murdered by his cousin, Duke Felmet, after his ambitious wife persuades him to do so.

The King's crown and child are given by an escaping servant to the three witches. The witches hand the child to a

troupe of travelling actors, and hide the crown in the props-box. They acknowledge that destiny will eventually take

its course and that the child, Tomjon, will grow up to defeat Duke Felmet and take his rightful place as king.

However, the kingdom is angry about the way the new King is mistreating the land and his subjects. The witches

realise that it will be at least 15 years until Tomjon is able to return and save the kingdom, but by then irreparable

damage will have been done. Granny Weatherwax, with help from the other two witches, manages to cast a spell over

the entire kingdom to freeze it in time for 15 years. Meanwhile, the Duke has decided to have a play written and

performed that portrays him in a favourable light and the witches in a negative light. He thinks this will cause the

witches to lose their power, and the people will like him. He sends the court Fool to Ankh-Morpork to recruit the

same acting company that Tomjon was given to, which now resides in the Dysk Theatre on the river Ankh.

The company make their way to Lancre, and perform the play for the King as asked. However, Hwel, the playwright,

maintains that there is something wrong with the plot of the play, something that just doesn't feel right. The witches

cast a spell in the middle of the play that causes the actors to portray the killing of the king truthfully, and the

audience sees that the Duke and Duchess are guilty of Killing Verence I. Felmet finally succumbs to insanity and stabs

several people with a retracting/fake dagger, before tripping and falling to his death in the Lancre Gorge. The

Duchess is imprisoned but manages to escape, only to be killed by a collection of various forest animals who want

revenge for the poor treatment of the land.

Granny Weatherwax explains that Tomjon is the rightful king, and he is due to be crowned. However, Tomjon does

not want to be king; he is an extremely talented actor and wishes to continue his career with his adopted father,

Vitoller. Instead Granny Weatherwax tells the town that the Fool is in fact the king's son from another mother, and

Tomjon's half-brother, and he is crowned King Verence II of Lancre. Later on, Granny and Nanny reveal to Magrat that

the previous fool is actually Tomjon's and Verence II's father.

Scenes

Scene 1 – The Blasted Heath

Scene 2 – Lancre Castle

Scene 3 – The Theatre

Scene 4 – The Castle

Scene 5 – Witch’s Cottage

Scene 6 – The Castle

Scene 7 – Witch’s House

Scene 8 – The Castle Dungeon

Scene 9 – Castle Gatehouse

Scene 10 – Outside the Dungeon

Scene 11 – The Castle Dungeon

Scene 12 – The Castle

Scene 13 – The Blasted Heath

Scene 14 – The Wood

Scene 15 – A Street in Ankh-Morpork

Scene 16 – The Theatre

Scene 17 – The Theatre

Scene 18 – Witch’s House

Scene 19 – On the Road

Scene 20 – The Woods

Scene 21 – The Main Hall of the Castle

Scene 22 – On Stage

Scene 23 – The Blasted Heath Again

The Cast Granny Weatherwax - Susan Power

Nanny Ogg - Cate Waters

Margrat Garlick - Megan Abbott

Fool - Matt Kerslake

Duke Leonel Felmet - David Brammer

Duchess Lady Felmet - Penny Cooke

King Verence - Liam Baker

Vitoller - Leslie Judd

Mrs Vitoller - Debbie Bennett

Tomjon - Reece Trott

Hwel - Ian Gooda

Stage Witches - Tiggie Ellison,

Georgie Smith, Debbie Bennett

Wimsloe (DEATH actor) - Ed Sinclair

Gumridge (Duchess actor)- Claire Cooper

Sergeant - David Cooper

Demon - Ed Sinclair

Chamberlain - Ian Gooda

‘Knows his rights’ Peasant - Reece Trott

Soldiers - Reece Trott , Tiggie Ellison

Guards - Georgia Smith, Tiggie Ellison, Ian Gooda, David Cooper, Mike Cooke

Bowman - Matt Kerslake

Stammering Actor - Ed Sinclair

Robbers - Ed Sinclair, Liam Baker and David Cooper

The Crew Directors: Claire Cooper and Matt Kerslake

Lighting and Sound: Barry Ayres

Costumes: Members of the Society

Props: Margaret Mould

Props Manager: Mike Cooke

Photography: Ed Sinclair

Animation: Terry Cook

Staging: Chris Scott

Backstage: Richard Bennett

Stocks maker: David Cooper

Cauldron: Cate Waters

Witch’s Hats: Diana Smith

Weapons: Harry Carpenter

Slides: Claire Cooper

Make-up: Jenny Lewis

Refreshments and Bar: Friends of the Society

Hall Decorations: Cyril Pyke

Thanks must be said to everyone who has helped in any shape or form!