For several years in the mid 1990s Sir Terry Pratchett was the biggest selling living author in the United Kingdom, yet the critics were still derogatory of his writing. In The Magic of Terry Pratchett, Marc Burrows, a comedian, writer, musician and self confessed Pratchett fan, guides the audience through a potted history of the writer, making it accessible for fans or those who have never read a Pratchett book alike. Having sold over 100 million books there is a lot of material about the author and his writing for the show to use.
Terry Pratchett is best known for his series of Discworld novels and more recently Good Omens, with the TV adaptation of the original 1990 novel being broadcast a few years ago with a second season made post covid. But as well as being a popular creator of fiction, Pratchett was an ex journalist and a man who made a noise about things that were important to him. In his later years, having been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s while still in his fifties, he became an outspoken critic of the lack of care for patients and research into the condition.
While mostly approaching the topic of Sir Terry in a very fun and light-hearted way, Burrows does tackle the more serious side of the issues facing his subject. A biographical story is interspersed with quotes from the books and anecdotes. While Burrows admits to having never met the writer, he has researched his material thoroughly and gained the support of Rob Wilkins, who was the authors assistant and maintains the estate. Burrows also wrote the first Pratchett biography, also entitled The Magic of Terry Pratchett, which was published in 2020. The first half of the show closes with an essay written by the writer for the Discworld convention in 2014, and uses AI software to have it read in Terry’s voice. It is a truly emotional moment.
The second act is shorter and more personal to Burrows and with the biographical bit having been covered in the first act, it allows the freedom to tell the stories that are important to him. The show then finishes with a Question and Answer session for the last half hour. Burrows initially carefully considers his answers and expands on them as his thought processes continue running.
Throughout the performance Burrows is always engaging, quick-witted and hugely knowledgeable about Sir Terry Pratchett. His fun, likeable personality shines through, making the whole show a charming and amusing evening’s entertainment. In the ethos of the author, everyone has their own story to tell, however here Burrows doesn’t only give the audience snippets of his own story but also tells the story of a prolific and erudite man. One taken far too soon, leaving the world without the stories he would have written if the Alzheimer’s had not interfered. For both fans of Terry Pratchett and those who have never read one of his books this show is definitely worth a night out.
Reviewed on Friday 4th October 2024
The Reviews Hub Score
Pun-tastic
