BFF25: Fackham Hall

Australian premiere

Step into a delightfully absurd world of class, cricket, and cunning in Fackham Hall — a gleefully irreverent spoof on the grandeur of period drama. In this riotous comedy of manners, lovable pickpocket Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe) insinuates himself into the storied Davenport estate, sparking a forbidden romance with Rose Davenport (Thomasin McKenzie). But as family rivalries bubble and scandals erupt — including a disastrous wedding and a sudden murder — Eric finds himself framed, his future and Rose’s hanging in the balance.

With a stellar ensemble cast including Katherine Waterston, Tom Felton, Emma Laird and Damian Lewis, Fackham Hall delights in skewering the rules of aristocratic decorum while still tugging at the heart. Conceived in the spirit of Airplane! and The Naked Gun, it lampoons Downton Abbey-style tropes with rapid-fire wit and affectionate derision.

This is Jimmy Carr’s screenwriting debut, and his love for the absurd infuses every line from high tea to low skulduggery. Fackham Hall will leave audiences chuckling behind their gloved hands and eager for another scandal at the manor. Pearl clutching optional.