Terry Pratchett's Wyrd Sisters, adapted by Stephen Briggs

Wyrd Sisters, a stage adaptation of one of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, tells the story of three witches as they navigate a plot that borrows familiar elements from several Shakespearean plays. Naturally, this is all mixed with Pratchett's trademark wit and humour. Linked to this, it was nice to see the opening screen animation portraying the Discworld turtle and to hear the voice of ‘Death’ introducing the show.

The pace was solid throughout and scenes transitioned smoothly despite the large number of locations. The use of the video screen allowed for quicker scene changes, with bright pictorial backgrounds and the occasional animated sequence. It did, however, mean there was little opportunity for blackout transitions, leaving silhouettes occasionally visible. To complement the projections, several useful set pieces helped establish the various settings and were moved efficiently. I particularly enjoyed the use of music and the way the production utilised the wider performance space, with witches flying down the aisle and performers occasionally becoming part of the audience. 

Costumes were well considered and suited the characters, with most performers remaining in a single costume throughout. I would perhaps have liked to have seen the Duchess look a little more regal and the ghost of King Verence appear slightly more spectral, but each character was clearly identifiable thanks to thoughtful details such as the flowers adorning Magrat's hat. 

Lighting supported the action well, creating some atmospheric moments. Sound and projection were generally effective, and dialogue was clear and easy to follow from the front of the auditorium.  

This production featured a large cast, giving plenty of opportunities for ensemble members to shine. Of these, I particularly enjoyed David Blaikie as the Demon (amongst others!), and Charlotte Yorke who delivered some strong moments as Mrs Vitoller. The various guards and actors all contributed to creating a lively Discworld. 

The scheming Duke and Duchess were well portrayed by Matthew Davies and Heike Revelle. Both showed strong development throughout the story, with the Duchess suitably manipulative and ambitious, while the Duke's increasing paranoia unfolded convincingly as events spiralled beyond his control. 

Tomjon was played with charm and sincerity by Jack Grant and I also enjoyed the performance of Stu Woolgar as our unlikely hero, The Fool. He gave a confident performance with strong physicality and comic timing, with his scenes alongside Magrat proving a particular highlight.

The three witches worked exceptionally well together and shared a natural rapport. Their personalities were established from the opening scene: the naïve, dreamy and inexperienced Magrat (Claire-Rose Charlton);  the bawdy and jovial Nanny Ogg (Vicki Hingley); and the commanding, matriarchal Granny Weatherwax (Shelley Gunn). The scenes featuring all three witches together particularly stood out, showcasing both the comedy and heart of the production. I also enjoyed their accents!

This was an enjoyable production, and it was clear how much work and passion had gone into staging a play with such a large cast and short scenes. You certainly didn't need to be a Pratchett or Shakespeare fan to enjoy an entertaining evening. Congratulations to director Nigel Moorhouse and the entire team on a fun production!

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