The event was compered by the incomparable Pat Harkin, a clever funny man who arrived script-less to ad lib through the evening to a chorus of duck noises from the audience and pantomime-reminiscent boos and hisses as he regaled us with tales of the green-light red-light scenario he was faced with from "Ops". Our guide was even awarded a commendation from the judges himself when half way through the performance, feeling time was going at a strange rate (as it unfortunately dragged between acts) he arrived at the podium as a far younger version of himself to rapturous applause.
The acts themselves were a surprising mix of family preparations, solo pieces worked carefully since the previous convention, complete with soundtrack and costume, and pieces pieced together on the spot by people who hadn't previously met. The judges' favourite was a piece adapted from the stage musical "Wicked" to fit the Discworld perfectly, but we were also treated to an exploding dragon, singing dwarfs, Otto the vampire-iconographer, Greebo the transforming cat, Ptraci the handmaiden as she belly-danced on stage. We watched in awe as Poi from the Land of Fog, and products from the Land of Avon were demonstrated to us. We wept with joy, cheered with adoration and laughed (mostly) on cue as the characters from the minds of Terry Pratchett were brought to life for us by the fans of Terry Pratchett.
After much deliberation, and a little more deliberation, and just to make sure, a final deliberation, keeping us waiting as long as a very large ball of string, we finally cheered in agreement with the judge's awards and made a hasty exit to the bar.
This was truly a delightful selection of the favourite characters of all the audience, and great fun was had by them as by us, with, I am sure, the seed for plenty ideas ready for the next convention.
Sarah Ganderton
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