Set in the 1830’s, the show focuses on the preparation at Syon House for the arrival of a young princess Victoria. The nineteenth century butler leads the audience through the house where they witness : below stairs, civil unrest in the Confectionary Kitchen, where M. Ude, the new French chef is at loggerheads with the old housekeeper, to the bedroom where a feisty Duchess of Kent confides her secret thoughts, to the Dining Room where a sullen maid is struggling to lay the dining room table under supervision, culminating in a Ball in The State Dining Room where the household dance The Schornberg Galop and the entire audience joins in one final dance.
“At Syon House I had the task of organising public events. Public events have to appeal to all age groups and relate to the property. Alan has a wealth of acting and directing experience, he is very skilled at researching the historical facts and writing a script to bring history to life. ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ was a brilliant example of this.
His team interpreted and organised the whole event complete with costumes and music. It was great fun for all as well as giving the visitors an idea of life ‘upstairs and downstairs’ in the nineteenth century.”
Janet McKay
Syon House
Gallery
