Programme of Activities
There are many lectures and other activities to keep you busy during the Convivium. Below we have listed some details on what will be available.
Please note that many activities still require volunteers to run them or help run them. If you would like to volunteer, please complete the volunteer registration form.
Some activities are not yet confirmed, and the schedule is subject to change right up until the last minute (and sometimes after). This list will be updated from time to time as new activities are added, or as some already listed are confirmed or cancelled.
If you have an idea for a fantastic activity not yet listed, and you would like to run it, please send an email to the Chair of Indefinite Studies with your ideas, and also complete the volunteer registration form.
Closer to the Convivium dates, we will release a timetable of activities.
Confirmed Activities
| Entrance Examination | Quiz | Friday evening |
| Experience the life a new University student! Join together with a team of friends and strangers and test your knowledge of Discworld and Roundworld. This is a great way to start the Convivium and to meet new people (and then use them for their large brains). | ||
| Commencement | Opening Ceremony | Saturday morning |
| The faculty of the Unseen University welcome you to the Convivium in style! | ||
| Gaudy Night | Gala Dinner | Saturday evening |
| It is often said that Wizards don’t have balls. This is one of those traditional Unseen University big dinners, that is not a ball. However, with copious amounts of food, drink, and more food, plus some entertainment, you’re sure to have one! (a ball, that is.) There is an extra cost for Gaudy Night, and places are limited. |
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| Maskerade | Costume parade and contest | Saturday evening (during Gaudy Night) |
| A chance to parade your fancy costumes! | ||
| The Wizard’s Excuse Me | Closing ceremony | Sunday afternoon |
| We say farewell and thank you to those who have enjoyed a weekend of University life. | ||
| Bedtime Stories | Friday night | |
| Once upon a time there was an author named Terry Pratchett who wrote amazing stories. People loved them so much they liked to read them out loud to other fans when it was close to bedtime, quite often dressed in pyjamas and clutching teddy bears (although that part isn’t compulsory). Volunteers needed. |
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| Games | Saturday, Sunday | |
| All your favourites – Thud, Ankh-Morpork, Guards! Guards!, Werewolf, and even other fun ones! Most of the time, the games will be available for you to play at any time, but we will also schedule some “learn to play” sessions. Some games may require guidance by an experienced hand (e.g. Werewolf, Significant Quest), but if you happen to be one of those hands, lead the game at any time! Volunteers needed for “learn to play” & scheduled sessions. Not all games listed above are confirmed just yet. |
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| Try Wizarding | Children’s Activities | Saturday, Sunday |
| Activities for the children! (Warning: average age of children is 25). Making shambles, build your own Tower of Art, Wizard’s Chocolate Challenge, Feet of Clay, Librarian’s Banana Challenge,and more! | ||
| Snowgum Films | Screenings / Q&A | |
| Visiting Lecturer Daniel Knight shows us the magic of Holy Wood with some films and footage from Snowgum Films, and will answer your questions about all things Snowgum! (Except perhaps “When will Troll Bridge be out?” because he’s sick of that) | ||
| Martin Pearson | Folk Singer | |
| Who likes folk songs? After all, they’re all about sex or beer, aren’t they? Master of this fine art Martin Pearson provides us with an hour of entertainment. We probably won’t have to push too hard to get him to play the Hedgehog song. | ||
| Pratchett Pieces | Play | |
| Unseen Theatre Company presents a collection of plays based on Terry Pratchett’s short stories. | ||
| Winery and Gourmet Tours | Monday all day | |
| There’s nothing that Wizards like more than dining and whining. Explore the fabulous region of McLaren Vale for the greatest of vintages and the most succulent morsels of epicurean delights. Or just stuff your face and get sozzled. There is an extra cost for the Winery and Gourmet Tours, and places are limited. The Winery tour is suggested for ages 18 and over. Parents with children under 18 are encouraged to select the Gourmet tour. |
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| Matt Falloon and his Trained Balloons | Balloon Creations | |
| Join master Conjuror Matt as he turns ordinary pieces of inflated rubber into amazing Discworld creatures before your very eyes! | ||
| Wossnames | Blankety Blanks | |
| The classic Australian game show Blankety Blanks re-imagined Discworld style! Match your wits (or at least the ability to think up double entendres) against an array of Discworld characters for the chance to win… well, absolutely nothing. But it’s good fun anyway. Volunteers needed. |
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| The Dark Morris | Morris Dance | |
| The secret of the deep Ramtops revealed! Learn and participate in a traditional (and necessary) Dark Morris dance. Dancers needed. |
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| Magic Workshop / Balloon Workshop | ||
| Matt Falloon shows you the secret workings of a balloon wrangler and the basics of Round World magic (which is akin to conjuring, and is far less likely to break down the barriers of reality) | ||
| Transmogrification | Face/Body painting | Saturday afternoon/evening |
| Get yourself turned into a frog. Or a werewolf, troll, zombie, vampire, Feegle, or many other creatures! Face & body painting available by appointment only at reasonable prices. In addition, a demonstration of a full-body painting will be done during Gaudy Night. | ||
| Department of Post-Mortem Communications | After Party | Sunday night |
| The official unofficial Convivium after party. Nothing is really organised, we just all agree on a place to meet up for dinner and drinks. An excuse for all you drunkards to get further inebriated on a Sunday night, and we’re allowed to say such things because of the Skull Ring! | ||
Potential Activities
We would love for the following activities to be run, but they have not yet been confirmed. If you would like to volunteer to run one of these activities, please complete the volunteer registration form.
| Virtual Terry and Rob | Skype call | |
| Through the magic of the omniscope we may have the chance to speak with the creator himself – or at least his able assistant. This activity is dependent on Terry and Rob’s availability. |
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| Virtual Guests | Skype call | |
| An omniscope call to one or two of the greats of the Discworld family – all the way from the UK. This activity is dependent on the availability of guests. Guest names will be revealed when they have accepted the invitation. |
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| The Great Debate | ||
| Wizards enjoy an argument as much as anyone else. More than most, in fact. Hear a controversial issue discussed and debated, and then vote on who comes second (after Granny Weatherwax) Volunteers needed |
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| The Philosophy of Discworld | Interactive Lecture | |
| A perennial favourite. Allow some of the Disc’s best philosophers pose to you some questions that make you think. Mostly what we think is “how long until lunch?” Volunteers needed. |
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| The Clickies | TV/Movie screenings | |
| Watch the latest Discworld offerings on the big(-ish) screen. | ||
| Late Night Lust Objects | Discussion | Friday night |
| Although Wizards are not allowed to marry, sometimes we admit to imagining what a lady (or man) may look like underneath all those petticoats. If you are not too embarrased, participate in this discussion of the characters you would most like to, er, be intimate with. Volunteers needed. This activity is restricted to ages 18 and over. |
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| Boy Archancellor | Traditional Ceremony | Winner announced Saturday night |
| It is a university tradition that once a year, a student can be elected Archancellor for a day. We have decided to open this honour to all Convivium attendees, even women. However, tradition dictates that you will still be called the Boy Archancellor. Nominate yourself, garner supporters and the winner shall be announced during Gaudy Night. They then have the honour of being Boy Archancellor all day Sunday. | ||
| Head of the River | Henley-on-Todd style boat race | |
| Rowing races are a proud tradition of many universities, but due to the condition of the River Ankh, we shall resort to running on the ‘surface’, so bring sturdy boots! Volunteers needed |
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| ’Sity and Guilds Foot-the-ball Match | Soccer match | |
| The sport of foot-the-ball has boomed in popularity in recent years, and the Unseen Academicals now field a formidable team. If you’d like to join either the University or the Guilds in this social challenge, please sign up to compete! Volunteers needed. |
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| Oooook? | Lecture | |
| Learn more about Pongo Pongo, the man of the jungle – the noble Orang-Utan | ||