Downton Abbey fans have a chance to get up close and personal with the real deal this month.
The Oak Bay Beach Hotel is hosting a party to celebrate the final broadcast of the period drama set in the fictional Yorkshire country estate of Downton Abbey that depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their domestic servants in the post-Edwardian era.
Just this week it was confirmed that Lady Fiona Carnarvon, owner of Highclere Castle – the real-life Downton Abbey – will attend the series finale of the program at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel on Sunday, March 6.
As the eighth and current Countess of Carnarvon reigning the real-life setting for Masterpiece Theatre’s Downton Abbey, Carnarvon was inspired to share the true story of Highclere Castle’s conversion to a hospital during WWI. From diaries, letters and photos straight out of the Edwardian era, she produced Lady Almina and the real Downton Abbey.
Over the course of the last five years Highclere Castle has become one of the most iconic houses in the world and Lady Carnarvon and her husband, the Earl of Carnarvon, have sought to share the stories and heritage. The event should be a fun way for fans of the program to say a final farewell with a cocktail reception, roaming dinner and 1920s era costumes.
Blue Bridge Theatre is putting on a bonus production in March as it presents The Gin Game, D.L. Coburn’s 1976 Pulitzer Prize winning play. To bring this epic story to life co-directors Brian Richmond and Shauna Baird have cast two of Canada’s most accomplished stage, film and TV actors. Playing Fonsia Dorsey will be one of the co-stars of the popular television series Da Vinci’s Inquest and Star Trek, Gwynyth Walsh. Weller Martin will be played by Scott Hylands, star of the popular TV series Night Heat and known locally for his stellar performances at both the Belfry Theatre and Blue Bridge.
Beer lovers will be happy to mark a milestone with Vancouver Island Brewery as it celebrates the 30th anniversary of Hermann’s Dark Lager. Vancouver Island Brewery was the second craft brewery to open in Canada. When it released Hermann’s Dark Lager in 1986, there was nothing like it on the market – the craft beer movement was in its infancy. Thirty years later, craft beers are enjoying tremendous success with more than 100 craft breweries producing beer in BC, with many more operating as contract facilities for dozens of banners.
Popular pubs around Victoria will be throwing birthday parties for Hermann’s throughout the month. Fans can win special keepsake steins by finding specially marked bottles in six-packs of Hermann’s at their favourite private liquor store, or by winning them at the birthday parties.