The Lace Market Youth Theatre presents a pastiche of vampire literature playing with mythic archetypes and featuring a tongue in cheek reversal of 'vampyre' subculture with young vampires who wear bright clothes, drink wine and stay up till noon.
This amateur production is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.
CAST
DEMAGPYRS...
Count
Sophie Boettge
Countess
Reanne Black
Vlad
Sam Howitt
Lacrimosa
Mary Kirwan
Igor
Megan Murphy
WITCHES...
Granny Weatherwax
Adelaide Marshall
Nanny Ogg
Maddy Stevens
Agnes Nitt
Emelia Pettit
Predita X Nitt
Lois Stevens
Magrat
Meg Garner
THE REST...
Rev. Mightily Oats
Sophie Owen
Big Jim Beef / Verence / Svitz / Death
Gabriel McGee
ENSEMBLE...
Shawn Ogg / Scraps
Joe Jaupi
Jason Ogg / Piotr
Roisin Kelly
Millie Chillum / Gertrude
Georgia Feghali
Mrs Scorbic / Waynetta Ogg / Old Count
Katherine Monk-Watts
Krimson
Jess Rainbow
Demone
Holly Ferline
Kraput
Coral Bailey
Beryl / Bestiality Carter
Lauren Shelton
Duane / Hans
Beth Alford
Lucia Lockley
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"Carpe Jugulum"
Nottingham Lace Market Theatre
Vampires or Vampyres, are not what they used to be. No longer are they afraid of traditional weapons like garlic and holy water, these are modern blood suckers, well even that may be a bit out dated now.
Foreknowledge of the series, or indeed Carpe Jugulum itself, is definitely not necessary for this play to be enjoyed. I am living proof of this fact as I’d no prior knowledge of Pratchett's intricate Discworld series. Having never really ventured into Pratchett World, after tonight, I think I've been converted.
The Nottingham Lace Market Theatre production is performed by their Youth Group and directed by Roger Watson, who is a massive Pratchett fan. Rosina Reading, Sophie Owen and Jemma Froggitt were Assistant Directors.
The King and Queen of Lancre are having their baby girl christened, and the King, who only sees the best in people, invites all the local heads of state and powerful families. Included in this is the De Magpyre family, who are Vampyres. These Vampyres are progressive and modern, and decide to take over the country. They come up against the Lancre Witches, who have to use all their guile and cunning to defeat them, causing much on stage hilarity in the process.
The set is magnificent. Designed by Cris Brawn. There are about 33 scene changes which are handled by the ensemble with incredible ease. The set is almost comic-book/ cartoon-like in its' appearance and adds to the fun element of the play.
The costumes likewise bring the whole atmosphere together. Max Bromley in the wardrobe department has really gone to town with them.
Some excellent lighting effects designed by Allan Green.
A cast of 22 were smoothly stage managed, along with the props and everything else by one man, Jon Watson.
This is a young group and delivering comedy isn’t easy for a lot of actors, of any age, especially after lengthy rehearsals, the laughs can seem a bit flat to the actors. If this was the case it didn't come across, although a loot of Pratchett's lines are delivered dead pan, which made it even funnier.
I wasn't going to pick out any particular actors, mainly because the cast worked so very well together but there were a few who I must mention for their wonderful acting and stage craft.
Sophie Boettge (Count), Sam Howitt (Vlad) Adelaide Marshall (Granny Weatherwax), Sophie Owen (Rev Mightily Oats) and Emelia Pettit (Agnes Nitt) were all incredibly good. This is not to take anything away from the rest of this marvellous cast because for a group so young, they delivered an amazing performance who understood the comedy and delivered it with belief.
There’s plenty to amuse the young audience member as well as the seasoned theatre goer with nods to Hammer Horror as well as Grimm’s tales. You won’t get a pain in the neck watching this theatre piece. I personally give fangs for a brilliantly entertaining night, proving I’m not too long in the tooth to enjoy a play like this.
I didn't realise how long this piece of theatre was because the time flew by. Pure spellbindingly magical, something to sink your theatrical teeth into. I loved it, and so will you!
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Carpe Jugulum At The Lace Market Theatre Nottingham
On Wednesday Night we had the pleasure of attending Carpe Jugulum at the Lace Market Theatre, a small, independent venue, located in the centre of Nottingham City. Terry Pratchett’s Comedic, Gothic novel was adapted for the stage by Stephen Briggs, and brought to life by the eclectic cast of the Lace Market Theatre Youth Group.
When entering the cosy auditorium, the stage set seems to blend right into the audience space with the Tim Burton-esque gothic castle reflected in the deep burgundy velvet chairs and dry ice leaking beyond the fourth wall. The quirky set, designed Cris Brawn, pre-empts the feel of the entire production. A modern take on traditional folk-lore, where Vampyres (it’s more modern spelt with a y !) wear bright clothes, drink wine and stay up till noon.
The play begins with an address to the audience, giving context of the fantastical land of Lancre and preparing us for all that is to come, the direct addressing continues through the performance and adds extra perspective and humour for the audience.
We are led into a grand castle where a naming ceremony is taking place for the new-born royal Princess, recently born to the King of Lancre and his Wife; a Witch. It is at this stage we are introduced to the key characters in the production: The three Witches, Nanny Ogg, Agnes and her (literal) other half Perdita and The Count and his family. Here begins the ancient feud between Vampire and Witch which dominates the rest of the performance and has great comical effect.
Each actor is worth noting, the young ensemble worked extremely well together and bounced off one another fantastically, particularly difficult when adding in comedic timing. Standout performances were Sophie Botegge’s Count – a traditional accent paired with brilliant comedic timing and perfectly delivered lines meant she led the troop through the performance and for me, was my personal highlight. Maddy Stevens as leader of the Witches, Nanny Ogg was perfectly cast and had the audience in stitches with her West Country Accent innuendos. The wet and timid Rev Mightily Oats was played impeccably by Sophie Owen, complete with Socks and Sandals, this religious figure, again picked up on satirical stereotypes perfectly adding yet more humour and entertainment.
A visit to the Lace Market Theatre is certainly advised, the fantasy genre may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the witty humour and delightful casting make this production unmissable.
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Carpe Jugulum at Nottingham's Lace Market Theatre - Review
There's a clever clue in the title – Carpe Jugulum, the latest Youth Group production at the Lace Market is all about vampires. Based on the Terry Pratchett Discworld novel, it tells of a dastardly attempt by some of these creatures to take over the Kingdom of Lancre.
But this particular bunch of "Vampyres" are trying to be up-to-date. Their boss, the Count, is convinced that traditional problems – daylight, holy water, crucifixes, garlic and so on – can be overcome if they adopt a positive mental attitude. And he wants to inject sweet reasonableness and compromise into the take-over.
His plans are of course foiled by the witch-led resistance.
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Pratchett's sharp and witty text is well handled by a huge cast. Especially at the start, poor articulation is a problem; but voice projection is fine. Acting standards are generally high, in some cases more than high.
Maddy Stevens gives a highly spirited performance as Nanny Ogg. And Sam Howitt as Vlad, with his misgiving about his father's evil plans, and his soft spot for Nanny Ogg, is excellent.
Sophie Boettge's Count is first-rate. Her control of voice, facial expression and bodily gesture are absolutely right for a tricky part. And Adelaide Marshall, as Granny Weatherwax, is also outstanding. Her speech with the light shining out of the anvil on to her face is a high-point of the play. Lighting design, crucial in this production, is especially good.
The poor, well-meaning but muddled Reverend Oats (Sophie Owen) is the primary target for some satire targeted at organised religion in the real world, especially Christianity. There are well-aimed blows at present-day power elites and actually telling observations about the true nature of sin and morality in general.
And along with his guile the Count presents a genuinely compelling moral case for the Vampyre community.
Read the original article here.
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