The Last Continent (2009)

Discworld is a world and a mirror of worlds. This is not a play about Australia. No, it's about somewhere entirely different which just happens to be, here and there, a bit... Australian. Still... no worries, right?
9 Oct 2009 to 24 Oct 2009 Wed to Sat at 8pm
This show has finished
Venue
Duration
2 hours plus a 15 minute interval
Performance dates
  • 9 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Fri)Preview
  • 10 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Sat)Opening night
  • 14 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Wed)
  • 15 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Thu)
  • 16 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Fri)
  • 17 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Sat)
  • 21 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Wed)
  • 22 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Thu)
  • 23 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Fri)
  • 24 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Sat)
Credits
Cast
Crew

Director Pamela Munt has done a good job of adapting the novel for stage... There are some great one-liners as the reluctant hero forges through desserts, beers and pie floaters. Alastair Preece is exceptional as Rincewind, as are the other versatile cast members, most of whom adopt several roles... A great night out for those who like their theatre full of thong-wearing wizards, pie floaters and Australian humour. (Samantha Bond, The Independent Weekly)

Pamela Munt has done a remarkable job in taking this and turning it into a play. Massive enthusiasm, immense energy, and lots of tongues very firmly jammed into cheeks... this show is an absolute must for Pratchett fans... keeps the audience in fits of laughter throughout. There is never a dull moment. The pie floaters at the interval seem to go down well, too, thanks to the salesmanship of our old friend, Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler. (Barry Lenny, GLAM)

Unseen Theatre Company provides another rousing and hilarious incursion into the fantastical Discworld. For the first time, Sir Terry Pratchett has given director, Pamela Munt, permission to adapt his novel for the stage. The result is a play that is arguably the finest Unseen has staged, which means it’s something rather extraordinary indeed. Thanks to Munt’s magical script – filled with smart observations and intelligent witty comedy - and some perfect portrayals of warped characters, the imagination soars and the ribs ache as jokes rapidly follow one another... A rib-tickling satire and a tongue-in-jowl spoof on Australia that’s fabulously funny and well worth seeing more than once. (Stephen Davenport,

-unseen-theatre-company.html">Australian Stage)

This show has finished
Venue
Duration
2 hours plus a 15 minute interval
Performance dates
  • 9 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Fri)Preview
  • 10 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Sat)Opening night
  • 14 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Wed)
  • 15 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Thu)
  • 16 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Fri)
  • 17 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Sat)
  • 21 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Wed)
  • 22 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Thu)
  • 23 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Fri)
  • 24 Oct 2009 8:00pm (Sat)
Credits
Cast
Crew

On the Discworld anything can happen. Or even “not happen”. Sometimes its difficult to know which is which – even for the Wizards at Unseen University.

In this case, The Last Continent was “not happening”. It was dying, even as it was being built. Even the Gods who were building it didn’t quite know what was going on. Some thought it was to do with the space-time continuum. Others thought that there was not enough magic left in the world to glue all the pieces together. Others thought it may be something to do with the lack of rain.

The one thing that they did agree on was that it needed a hero. A hero who could eat a Pie Floater even when he was sober… Yep its our old friend Rincewind. The inept wizard who can’t even spell wizard. He’s the only hero left. Still… no worries, right? Or as he would say: “Dead is only for once, but running away is forever”.

Credits

Director and Script adaptation: Pamela Munt

Welcome to a part of the Discworld that you have never seen before. Most of our beloved author's stories are set in the main city of Ankh-Morpork which has a distinct feel of Ye Olde England about it. This time we are going to Fourecks - The Last Continent. We are still on the Discworld but far away from the narrow winding grubby streets of Ankh-Morpork, home of the City Watch.

Our journey (unlike the Wizards of Unseen University who manage to transport themselves anywhere and everywhere) has been a long time brewing. We have travelled through 18 other Pratchett plays as well as other off-beat comedies like Ben Elton’s “Gasping” and “Silly Cow”, as well as “Star Trek” and “Men Behaving Badly” since Unseen Theatre Company's inception in 2000. These shows have all run to great critical acclaim and usually full houses. Unseen has also gone out of its usual square to produce Brien Friel’s delightfully heart-warming “Dancing at Lughnasa” with a group of WAAPA graduates combined with local Adelaide professional actors, for the 2006 Adelaide Fringe.

We have now arrived at the oldest, but newest Continent on the Disc. One which we are assured "does not" mirror Australia, despite the fact that our reluctant hero who is transported to a hot, dry red desert invents among other things, a brown gooey substance that tastes good on sandwiches and cork hats during his quest to once again save the Discworld.

I am particularly pleased to present The Last Continent to you tonight because it is the first of Sir Terry Pratchett's novels which I have been given permission to adapt from scratch. I am honoured by his trust in me and am sure that it has nothing to do with an idea which he may or may not have that I know more about Australia than he does:-)

To my cast and crew - thank you for all of your dedicated hard work over the past ten weeks - even though I did have to prop you up with pizza?

To some of Adelaide's well loved critics who have been urging me to write myself for some time - here it finally is. Thanks for your confidence in me and I hope you don't find it, like The Last Continent, "mostly held together with spit". Enjoy!

Cast

Ponder Stibbons: Elliot Howard

Elliot’s interest in acting began with a high school play in 2003. Soon after he had a speaking role in a commercial. Elliot graduated from AC Arts in 2007 receiving an Advanced Diploma of Arts – Acting. His first roles after graduating were in “Macbeth” at the Odeon Theatre and which toured metropolitan schools, playing the roles of MacDuff and King Duncan. Then it was on to Singapore to perform in a children’s theatre show. Following this he acted and played guitar in Splash Theatre’s “The Book Show”. Elliot can also be seen in a few short films such as “The Man Who Poisoned the Sun”, “The Only House on the Street” and “No Spoons”.

Archchancellor Ridcully: Gary Harrison

Since being bitten by the theatre bug in 2006, Gary has been seen in six productions for various theatre companies including Spotlight, Northern Lights and the Rep. He played in the Adelaide Fringe in 2008 “Scapegoat” and 2009 in “Everynight, Everynight”. This is his first Unseen play and he hopes to do more. He describes his introduction to the Discworld as “????” and “great fun”

Senior Wrangler: Leo Baker

Leo returns to us from “Jingo” and “Making Money”, and he has no idea why. Neither are we about to tell him. Even under the pressure of writing his bio as his “ticket of leave” from rehearsals, all he could come up with was “dear oh deary me” and “I really like “Jerry Pratchett”. Hmmmmmm – if he can’t spell the name, are we to believe him? Perhaps it doesn’t matter – after all the whole thing is about suspension of disbelief, is it not? Welcome back Leo!

The Librarian: Amber Forbes

Amber is one of our well kept “secrets” or “treasures”. She began coming to our plays as an audience member seven years ago and since then waited patiently to be the required age of 18 in order to audition for our recent production of “Making Money”. She now trades in her Glooper and Igor for a Library and a banana. You would be amazed at how many meanings she can find for the word “Oook!”

Mrs Whitlow: Helen Darlington

Helen studied drama as part of a BA in 1997. Plays in Melbourne of note are “The Playboy of the Western World” by Synge, directed by the famous Ray Lawler who wrote the “Summer of the Seventeenth Doll” and “The Sentimental Bloke” by CJ Dennis directed by Alastair Mackenzie at Camberwell Theatre. Helen also worked on Cop Shop, Skyways and The Sullivans in the eighties. She played the lead role in Bugger Me Dead” directed by Rob de Kok. She also plays Mother Xmas every year at Castle Plaza Shopping Centre. Her latest short film was a Ben Robinson production called “Open Sore”.

Rincewind: Alastair Preece

Alley seems bemused by the rest of the cast constantly saying “jeez man, you ARE Rincewind”. Apparently he doesn’t have a mirror. Not only does he visually fulfil every Discworld fan’s image of the character, but we also found out along the way that he can act too! After that we discovered that he is a photographer and a graphic designer. The use that we make of him inspires the great running skills required to play Rincewind. Welcome to the organised chaos that is Unseen, Alley!

Young Hugh always had a fascination with DEATH. One day he was introduced to the joy and awesomeness that is Pratchett. He has never looked back. He has finally achieved his dream – playing the role on stage that he wishes he could play in life…or DEATH as the case may be. NO WORRIES.

Island God: Marlon Dance-Hooi

Marlon is completely normal and he has the certificate to prove it. Called to the stage at the tender age of 5, his acting skills consisted of not picking his nose on stage, a technique he has now mastered. He is a long time Pratchett fan, having begged, borrowed or stolen the entire series. He studies law haphazardly, sings sporadically and acts obsessively. His credits include 8 plays, 6 films (none you’ve seen), 4 musicals and one commercial

Oz Dean: Lexi Champion

Lexi was born into a slightly psychotic family. Despite this great handicap she was able to break free from the shackles of expectations and genetics to lead a semi-normal life. She did some stuff, then she did some other things that we probably shouldn’t print. Then she started her masters in writing at Adelaide Uni, which only compounds the insanity. Now she’s doing this play. Enjoy it. Who knows what she’ll be doing next week.

Dean: Peter Fry

Having been turned down for such illustrious roles as Hamlet, Starsky and the guy out of Death of a Salesman, Peter has made a virtue of necessity in bringing his uniquely erratic acting style to Unseen. He was last “unseen” in “Carpe Jugulum” as the Mightily Reverend Mr. Oats.

Archchancellor Rincewind: Pamela Munt

Pamela is particularly thrilled to be playing Archchancellor Rincewind because despite having produced, directed and acted in 18 Discworld plays, this is the first time she gets to legitimately carry weapons. Well that is, on stage at least. In the distant past, she has been known to brandish them at obstreperous cast members and/or audience members who arrive late. She is also enjoying letting the well known, usually very formal character of Footnote gradually “go native” in this production.

Crew

Stage manager: Andrew Zeuner

Andrew’s main claim to fame is that he wears nearly as many hats as Pamela, who is often heard to say that she couldn’t possibly do without him. Andrew Stage Manages, baby-sits Pamela in her weaker moments, and even offers his “real job” services as an Accountant.

Assistant Stage Manager: Kari Anderson

Kari began her theatre life working with costumes professionally in Queensland. She realised she preferred amateur theatre building and designing sets and being crew and making interesting props.

Lighting Operator: Marcus Cook

Marcus first became interested in theatre in 2003 when he joined Spotlight Theatre Co. Highlights as sound/lighting designer and operator include 84 Charing Cross Road and Educating Rita (also Assistant Director). Marcus completed a Diploma Live Production, Theatre & Events (Technical Production) in 2007. Most recently, he has been the Lighting Designer and Operator for Accidental Production's Arabian Night, and for the Bakehouse Theatre production of Three in the Back, Two in the Head.

Front of House: Melanie Howard

We are delighted to welcome Melanie as FOH Manager. Not only is she exceptionally efficient and kind to the audience, she can also balance the ticket till with the booking sheet, which is no mean feat around here. And she does it with a smile! What else needs to be said?

Set Design: David Good

David first joined us in “Making Money” where he conjured up “The Glooper” and some marvellous desks which not only looked good, but were able to be folded to be stored! Bonus! He has now done another great job with this set giving it a great Aussie outback feel.

Costume Design: Rachelle Thompson

This is Rachelle’s first production with Unseen Theatre Company. She trained in costumes at AC Arts and it shows. She has come up with some great ideas and she didn’t even run away in horror when confronted with racks and racks of unsorted stock costumes which she is patiently sorting for us!