WYRD SISTERS
A COMEDIC ADVENTURE OF WITCHES, GHOSTS, YOUNG LOVE AND DIVERS ALARUMS Based on the novel by Terry Pratchett
Adapted for the stage by Stephen Briggs
Directed by Simon James By The Prickling of My Thumbs The King of Lancre has been murdered. His son is spirited away. The guilt-ridden Duke and the unrepenting Duchess take over the kingdom. The baby heir ends up in the company of witches, and they decided the safest place for him is with a troop of strolling players who can take him out of the kingdom. Time passes and under the rule of the Duke and the Duchess, the land becomes sick, the kingdom deteriorates. Not even the perkiness of the Fool can brighten the brooding Duke. But the Fool does sparkle in one person's life - Magrat Garlick, youngest member of the witch's coven. They soon fall in love through a gawky, embarrassing romance. Determined to put an end to the rumours surrounding the King's death, the Duchess goads her husband into action. He despatches the Fool to the metropolis of Anhk-Morpork to find a writer of plays. A play about the King and the Duke and Duchess will put history clear, wouldn't it? Meanwhile the witches are concerned at the state of the kingdom, and although not wanting to meddle in state affairs, decide that it is time for the heir to return and claim his rightful place on the throne. To get around the fact that he is only a few years old, Granny Weatherwax casts a mighty spell that throws the kingdom twenty years into the future. And Tomjon does indeed return, to star in the play for the Duke. With the witches "still not meddling", the performance takes on a life of its own and new words write themselves and suddenly the Duke and Duchess are exposed for the killers they are. But Tomjon doesn't want to become king. He alludes to a half-brother, who turns out to be the Fool. And so Lancre has a new king and the witches can go off for a pot of tea before the next disaster strikes the kingdom. DIRECTOR'S NOTES I discovered Terry Pratchett only two years ago (1999). Since then I have read all of his Discworld novels and most of his other works. I admire his inventiveness, his wonderfully perceptive characterisations, and the great sense of humour that shines through his depictions of human nature. WYRD SISTERS has been a challenging production. The cast size, the rehearsal logistics, the production management, the promotion, even the nitty gritty things such as poster design, marketing plans, stuffing things into envelopes - well, it can all be rather overwhelming at times - and at times when you just want to get on with the directing of the play! All of these things have consumed my life for the last six months. But through it all, it has allowed me the priceless opportunity to work with some rather talented people, and to extend theirs, and my own, production and performance experience. WYRD SISTERS is essentially a lot of fun. To create and to watch. If it leaves you with more than a smile on your face, then that's a bonus. It's not "serious" theatre, but then it doesn't pretend to be. I was looking for a new challenge, something that was different to what ARENA had been doing. I found it with this production. I hope you enjoy it, too. Simon James
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