Convention Events 2011
Version 3 – changed 23 Jan 2011
You can download a provisional schedule of events (in pdf format) from here
Activities for the 2011 Convention – With Explanations
This is still a provisional list of the activities that we are planning to run at the convention. Many of them are now confirmed, but PLEASE do not get upset if your item is not on the list, or your name is cited and you have not formally agreed. This is a WORKING DOCUMENT and subject to (a lot) of change.
Many items are events that were popular in the UK or at previous Australian Conventions while some are new. We are very grateful to all the volunteers who have come forward offering to run an event or two.
The aim of putting it up here is to get you EXCITED!!! (I know I am!). If you want to see something happen and it is not here – please contact our Events Organiser Better still, offer to run it! The Convention operates on a purely voluntary basis and the more people who contribute the better the events will be! As a famous warmonger once almost said “Your Convention Needs You”.
Looking forward to hearing from you all – feedback so far has been great – hope this makes you even more prepared for the event of a lifetime!
Bloody Stupid Johnson’s Inventions Class: Select random items from the hat and combine them to create extraordinary inventions in the style of Master Botcher, BSJ. Team Game – great chance to meet new people and show yourself up in front of them
Buggerup Photo: After the Maskerade Parade, we invite you to have your photo taken in costume with a prop. You will then be matted onto a Discworld background and published for all to see. We can email you a copy of the picture on request.
Chaos Costuming – Needs Volunteers: Broken costume? No costume? Come to Chaos Costuming. An area full of old scraps of material and bits of costuming for you to rummage through and adapt. Sewing machines and cottons will be on hand and also a helpful person to assist. PLEASE NOTE. Do not expect anyone to make a costume for you. Feel free to create anything you wish costume wise, but the room is really there for YOU to create, not for others to make a costume for you. This event is run by the Australian Guild of Costumers.
Charity Auction: A plethora of Discworld related items for you to bid for in the time honoured tradition. All proceeds go to our two chosen charities:* The Garven Institute and The Orang-utan Foundation and our sponsored Orang-Utan at Taronga Zoo. If you have never been to this it is really, really good fun. Come even if you don’t intend bidding. Bet you do though!!
Closing Ceremony: Yes – it’s listed before the Opening Ceremony! Could only happen on Discworld! A summing up of, what we aim to be the best ever Convention. Certificates, thanks, tears and laughter. Don’t miss it – better than the Oscars!
Discworld Broadcasting Company Radio Play: A chance for all your budding Thespians to exercise your vocal chords. An excerpt, read from Guards! Guards!, adapted for Radio. Come and create foley (sound effects) and replace canned laughter with real laughter
Discworld Card Making: For all you Cunning Artificers – a chance for you to create some Discworld cards with local card company Inkwishes. Materials will be supplied for you to be able to take away 5 wonderful Discworld inspired cards. Great for kids from 8 – 80
Fan Art Exhibition: We know there are a lot of you out there with amazing talent in drawing, painting and sculpting. Here is your chance to exhibit your work along side that of other people who are also inspired by the writing genius of Terry. Go to Ops for details.
Folk Songs of the Discworld: Sometimes I think Folk Singing was invented just to Martin Pearson! Singer and raconteur, Martin is a joy to witness in action. His knowledge of folk songs is encyclopaedic, his singing and playing outstanding. A must for your complete Discworld experience.
Feet Of Clay : Get physical with this daft Discworld variation of that family favourite, Twister. Match up the letters on your feet to create Discworld words selected by the Foot Meister! A scream!
Galah Dinner: Panthers has a reputation for excellent cuisine. The Gala Dinner will prove to be one of the highlights of the Convention. Food, drink and entertainment. TICKETS ONLY AVAIALBE IN ADVANCE.
Great Hedgehog Race: Discworld’s version of Scrapheap Challenge. Grab some garbage from the stack and see if you can create a Hedgehog that can get from one place to another under its own steam. We know the Turtle Moves, but can your Hedgehog?
Guild Meetings: A daily chance for you to get together and plan what you will arrange for the Guild Entertainment hour, how you will make sure you have more AM$ than any other Guild and other dastardly deeds.
Hex – Computer Sessions: We hope to have a number of computers up and running various Discworld Computer Games. Sessions can be booked, but we will run them long enough for as many as we can to have a go at some of these games from the 1990s!
Illustrators Master Class: Ever wanted to draw a picture of Rincewind? The Luggage? Nanny Ogg? Well here is your chance. Come armed with pencils and paper and our resident artists will take you through the steps to creating your own masterpiece. All efforts will be included in the Fan Art Exhibition.
Juggling Workshop: Ever wondered just what attracted Magrat to Verence in the first place? It was the way he juggled his balls! And you too an acquire this skill at the ever popular Juggling Workshop
Klatches: Your opportunity to fire questions, in small groups, at a select person associated with the Discworld. There will be a special Terry Klatch for competition winners and another opportunity determined by a draw at the Convention. There will of course be a Rob Wilkins’s Klatch and others to be announced.
Martin Pearson: Here he is again, that Funster of Folk, the Patrician of Patter, the Mugwump of Music. Martin will entertain you with songs from Roundworld.
Maskerade Parade: Consistently bowled over by the standards of costuming, the Committee wants to offer you ALL the opportunity to strut your stuff upon the stage and display your costume creation to us all. A Fashion Show format will apply and there will be a special award from the Australian Guild of Costumers – sponsors of this event.
Masquerade Parade Preparation: Time for you to get those cozzies titivated and ready to unleased on an unsuspecting Discworld! Get down to Chaos Costuming for lost buttons and popped seams!
Miss Susan’s Playtime: A range of activities for children of all ages – clay, drawing and colouring, face painting – activities yet to be confirmed. Will include Feet of Clay and Peeling a Banana with your feet!!!!!
NA4 Over To You: Have you loved it? Want to make it even better in 2013? Your chance to feed back and volunteer for the next one!!
Opening Ceremony: Welcome ladies, gentlemen and er others! The 2011 Australian Discworld awaits you. Come to the Opening Ceremony to meet some of the stars, hear about what we have brought together for your delight and join up with your fellow conventioneers in what will prove to be the experience of a lifetime!
Philosophy of the Discworld – Cogito, Cogito Ergo Sum : For all you Tsortians, Omnians and other deep thinkers, here is your chance to investigate the Philosophy of Discworld. Last time saw us building towers of sweets, not shooting a turtle and building the same boat many times! What will this year hold?
Reduced Wyrd Sisters: After a successful run of Wyrd Sisters in early 2010, we were delighted when The Glenbrook Players agreed to revisit their production for the benefit of our Convention membership. Away from the comfort of their familiar stage and lighting, they have worked hard with our Committee to bring you a slimmed down version to fit the timetable. We are convinced that after seeing this you will want to see their next show and be lobbying for them to do another Pratchett Play.
Room 3B – Chill Zone: Not technically an event, more a state of mind! A quiet area where people can rest from the rigours of the convention. Gentle conversation is encouraged, but please don’t disturb the Lecturer in Recent Runes – he has come here for a rest!
Scumble Tasting: We are delighted to welcome the Lark Distillery http:*//www.larkdistillery.com.au/ from Tasmania who will be allowing us to sample their world famous Cider (Scumble). There will also be an opportunity to sample their outstanding Whiskeys which are giving the Scots a run for their money! This is a strictly over 18s event. The door will be managed and entry will be by ticket only. Tickets are free but must be pre-booked at the convention and ID must be shown. Get Saving! You will want to take home some Scumble – I can guarantee.
Scavenger Hunt (Pre convention activity): This event started at the beginning of the year. There will be points awarded for the most items found. You may even have to get to the Convention to find everything. Details are on the website. Organise to bring the items on the list. Earn points per item and there is an AM$ prize for the Guild we gets the most!
Significant Quest: Every convention, demand for this game just gets bigger and bigger. Join your Quest Master for the journey of a lifetime. A table top role playing game with a difference.
Soft Foam Sword Fighting: Ever wanted to buckle your swash? Lisa and David will give you the opportunity to do so in a safe and non-confrontational environment. Soft swords are ideal for learning the footwork and strategy of sword fighting. Elegant and deadly – a must for all would be Assassins
Terry’s Bedtime Stories: What would bedtime be without a shot of Terry? A selection of short readings. Turn up in your PJs with a cup of cocoa and a pillow. Yes, really! We want to see some really bad nightwear at this event. (Not too revealing though guys – kids present!!) I can guarantee Where’s My Cow will be on the list at least one night!
Terry’s Shorts: Arriving very early for one event in 2009, Committee members were stunned at the quality of the reading given at this event. If you want to hear top quality short stories by Terry, read dramatically and engagingly – this is the gig for you. These guys could even give Tony Robinson a run for his money!
Thank Gods You’re Here: Pre register to be one of a small group of people taking part in the Discworld version of this great TV favourite. Actors will find themselves in strange situations and be required to act themselves out of them! A real hoot is guaranteed.
The Dark Morris: We are honoured to have been given the opportunity, by Bernard Pearce & Stan M Tunstall-Otterburn to learn and perform the fabled Dark Morris. Over two sessions Conventioneers will learn about the traditions of Morris dancing in Roundworld, watch the dance being performed and then be invited to learn the steps. All participants will be expected to wear black. The second session will be a quick rehearsal followed by a twilight performance, outside in the gathering gloom. Performed in complete silence, the Dark Morris is a must for all folkies and those interested in the Wyrd!
The Great Debate: Two teams debate a hot Discworld topic. Expect lots of people hamming it up good time and many examples of bad behaviour disguised as debate. Bound to include Granny Weatherwax and possibly a Wizard that looks like Martin Pearson! Laughs galore.
The Trial of Vetinari: Evil genius or Man of Vision – you decide, as Lord Vetinari is cross examined by two teams of expert liars (sorry) lawyers. Is he naughty or nice? Don’t leave it to the Hogfather to decide, be there and make an informed decision for yourself!
Thud Training Sessions: If you have never played Thud, then this is your opportunity. Thud, the official game of Discworld, invites you to recreate the ‘The Battle of Koom Valley’. Where Dwarfs and Trolls battle for supremacy. Use these training sessions to build up a vocabulary of strategy and prepare you for the . . .
Thud Tournament: Intended to run over a whole day, this will be the knock out contest (or round robin depending on number of entrants) to end all contests. Pit your wits against players at all levels. All abilities and species welcome.
Unseen Academicals v AllComers Football: We will be looking for 24 people to come and hold an English style Football match. Come prepared to play in character. Is anyone brave enough to dress as an Orang Utan? A trophy for the winning team. We encourage spectators for this – bring your whistles and wooden rattles and wear costume!
UU Quiz: Form teams before, or on the day and join in this rollicking romp through the long lost byways of Discworld. The 2009 Quiz was fiendish – this one will be its equal or better. Get reading those Discworld books and brushing up on the minutiae of your favourite Author, Sir Pterry!
Vikings Invade: The nearest we could arrange to a barbarian hoard for you! Come and meet the Blue Mountains very own Europa Vikings. Scourge of Western Europe in the 8th and 9th Centuries, discover the truth about these pioneers of travel. Their code of ethics, their skills and their hopes and fears for their race. Oh yes and touch their killing implements too!
Werewolf: What would a convention be without Werewolf? And without the WolfMaster himself, Pat Allan, who has kindly once again agreed to lead this event. Join in this parlour game with BITE! Young and old have fallen for the charms of Werewolf – now is your chance to enjoy it.
Wossnames: So you think you know about words! Wossnames will prove you wrong. Battle against other Conventioneers, in and out of costume, to choose the correct definition of a range of words – Discworld and otherwise! This one will crack you up and was a huge success in 2009.
Writers Workshop: Ever wanted to write? Need some inspiration? Got some fan writing you want to share? A daunting prospect to walk in the footsteps of Terry, but we know that many of you are just bursting with ideas! Come and talk to our resident writer (name to be confirmed) and see what spills out form the end of your pen.
Writers Workshop Revealed: If enough pieces are readable, we would like to offer the writers the opportunity to read them aloud. If not, they may end up at Bedtime stories or we will find other opportunities.