Lords and Ladies
Adapted from Terry Pratchett novel by Irana Brown
Directed by Maryanne Cathro
Season: 14-16 and 19-23 July 2005
Staging this production was a labour of love. Maryanne Cathro and Sandi Ward, both major Pratchett-heads, worked long and hard to bridge the space between book and stage in such a way that even the most critical fan would approve of.
Julian Southgate's set design turned the show, literally, on its head. The stage was encircled by a Stone Henge-like circle of stones, some of which had other functions and converted into everything from a breakfast table and forge to a doorway and a bed. This meant that when Diamanda and Granny entered the Dancers, they went through the back stones, the lighting shifted, and they came through again as if coming out the other side. It was a brave concept but one that worked brilliantly. By taking away the need to move scenery on and offstage, we managed to keep scene changes down to under 30 seconds, most of which were covered by fabulous musical segués created by Michael Nicholas Williams.
The music was an integral part of the show. As the Morrismen began the Stick and Bucket dance, the ripple of laughter from the audience grew as it slowly dawned that the unusual piece of accordian music was Staying Alive by the BeeGees!
All in all it was heaps of fun and that's what counts in the end!
Gallery
| Queen of the Elves | Jennie Fletcher |
| Elves | Rebekah Ising, Steve Pearce |
| Mustrum Ridcully | Brian Sullivan |
| Ponder Stibbons | Reece Paterson |
| Bursar | Phillip Lee |
| Granny Weatherwax | Deirdre Tucker |
| Nanny Ogg | June Peka |
| Magrat Garlick | Adele Courtman |
| King Verence | Richard Draper |
| Shawn Ogg, Obidiah | Chris Church |
| Jason Ogg | Callum Paul |
| Weaver | Kris Vavasour |
| Thatcher | Nicki Mitchell |
| Millie Chillum, Baker | Rachel Townsend |
| Bestiality Carter / The Long Man | David Cathro |
| Diamanda, Elf | Michelle Berridge |
| Amanita | Deborah Carr |
| Perdita / Agnes | Sandi Ward |
| Casanunda | Klaus Hermanspahn |
| Pratchett Consultant | Sandi Ward |
| Publicity | Chanel Hughes |
| Publicity Artwork | Dino Chai |
| Funding | Dai Eveleigh |
| Stage Manager / Dialect Coach | Jack Jermyn |
| Set Construction | Tom Vavasour, Paul Stenhouse, cast |
| Costume Design/Construction | Maryanne Cathro, Anna Warnock |
| Special Props | Wendy Prior |
| Sound effects and mixing | Kris Vavasour |
| Sound Operator | Ian Orchard |
| Lighting Design | David Cathro |
| Lighting operator | Big Dave |