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Carpe Jugulum

A COMEDIC ADVENTURE OF TEA, BLOOD, ONE GRUMPY OLD WITCH, THREE BUMBLING WITCHES, A HUNCHBACK, A SOPPY PRIEST, A BITCHY IMAGINARY FRIEND AND A REVOLTING MOB OF PEASANTS, ALL HELL-BENT ON RIDDING THEIR LAND OF THE MOST GHASTLY THREAT THEY HAVE EVER FACED . . . AN INVASION OF VAMPIRES! Based on the novel by Terry Pratchett Adapted for the stage by Stephen Briggs Directed by Simon James Sieze The Throat July 2003 saw Arena's production of Terry Pratchett's CARPE JUGULUM hit the Hayman Theatre for eight performances. Queen Magrat and King Verence II are celebrating the naming of their baby . . but Granny Weatherwax hasn't received her invitation (it was nicked by magpies) and disappears, thinking she wasn't invited to the Name Giving Ceremony! Nanny Ogg and Agnes Nitt (the newest addition to the Coven) are left to fight the invading de Magpyre Family. But these are no ordinary vampires. They prefer to be called vampyres for a start! And they have trained themselves to be impervious to crucifixes and holy water and all those superstitious things that are suppose to send them into a pile of dust. Just how Granny outwits and outplays and out-survives them is a masterpiece of creativity, and this comedic adventure, of course, ends on a happy note. Even for Igor (a man of many parts) and his faithful dog Scrapth. . . Performed 9th - 12th and 16th - 19th JULY, 2003 at 8.00pm at the Hayman Theatre, Curtin University. Tickets : $15 Full, $12 Concession. BOOKINGS 9362 4080.

Director's Notes

Casting a Pratchett production is the first BIG task to tackle. With over 40 people auditioning for the 24 cast slots certainly takes up a bit of time. 24 performers playing 45 characters certainly takes a lot in costuming and make-up resources. Just getting 24 people all together at the same time can be a big effort. Not to mention the quality and detail that ARENA likes to put into its productions in terms of the set, furniture, props, etc.

Working with so many people onstage and backstage has given us the opportunity to work with a really creative bunch of talented individuals. Such folk certainly help to make things run smoother and lessens the grey hairs sprouting in stress from the director's diminishing tresses.

There are always problems to overcome, lots of work along the way, countless things to do at the last minute - all of which are aimed at making the whole process, and particularly the end result, look very easy and effortless to the audience. Don't kid yourself. What they see is the culmination of months of hard slog. If anyone says to someone working in theatre get a real job, we'd say there is nothing more real than labour-intensive hard work. So all we can suggest in rebuttal is Get an easier job. Enrol for the S.A.S.

Theatre shines because of the luminaries that create it. We hope our audiences enjoyed each and everyone's incandescence in our production of Carpe Jugulum.