The cast and creative team behind Fackham Hall gathered in New York City for the film’s premiere, celebrating a project that gleefully spoofs British period dramas with a mix of romance, mystery, and nonstop gags. Cast members were joined by director Jim O’Hanlon, the film’s writers, and producers, along with special guests and supporters who filled the Metrograph for the lively screening.
The film follows Eric Noone, a charming pick-pocket who takes a job at Fackham Hall, an aristocratic English manor brimming with secrets, eccentric personalities, and a star-crossed love story. True to its inspirations, the movie blends the elegance of classic British dramas with the sharp irreverence of Monty Python and Airplane. That balance of romance, mystery, and absurdity echoed throughout the night as the creative team reflected on building a world where elegance and chaos coexist.
New York, New York – 12/2/25 – Writers Tim Inman, Andrew Dawson and Steve Dawson attending the NYC Premiere of Bleecker Street and Legion M’s “FACKHAM HALL” Photo by: Jason Mendez / StarPix for Bleecker Street
Location: Metrograph
Director Jim O’Hanlon shared that he was immediately drawn to the script’s mix of pace, tone, and sheer comedic ambition. Known for his work in both drama and satire, he embraced the challenge of honoring the grandeur of the genre while pushing its most familiar tropes to their limits. Cast members spoke about the joy of performing heightened characters with total sincerity, a technique that anchors the film’s most outrageous moments.
In speaking with the cast on the carpet, several emphasized that the key to comedy here was actually not “playing funny.” Katherine Waterston described approaching her character with the same seriousness she would bring to a dramatic role. Even amid outrageous situations, she explained, the focus was always on what the character wants rather than chasing a laugh. She added that learning the posh accent of Lady Davenport was challenging considering production was in Liverpool and working alongside actors and crew with a variety of regional voices made vocal precision part of the fun.
Emma Laird, whose recent projects have leaned heavily into drama, shared that stepping into a comedic environment offered a refreshing shift in tone. She spoke about the joy of being on set and the unexpected realization that acting can be equally rewarding when approached with lightness. According to her, the cast’s dedication to playing each moment truthfully is exactly what makes the humor land. “You don’t laugh at the joke,” she said. “That’s what makes it funny.”
Thomasin McKenzie echoed that sentiment, noting that her role required her to “play it straight” even as increasingly absurd situations unfolded around her. Known for emotionally grounded performances, she described the process as liberating and surprisingly freeing, especially in moments where the comedy swirled around her character’s sincerity. Her task, she shared, was simply to take the story as seriously as possible and let the humor emerge naturally from her character’s perspective.
New York, New York – 12/2/25 – Thomasin McKenzie, Emma Laird, Andrew Dawson, Steve Dawson, and Tim Inman at the post-screening reception for the Premiere of Bleecker Street and Legion M’s “FACKHAM HALL” Photo by: Jason Mendez / StarPix for Bleecker Street
Location: Metrograph
Writers Steve Dawson, Andrew Dawson, and Tim Inman described the film’s world as the product of deep affection for British period dramas and the irresistible urge to lovingly dismantle their conventions. They built the plot as a functioning drama first, ensuring that the romance and murder mystery could stand on their own before layering on jokes, gags, and visual chaos. Producer Mila Cottray highlighted the importance of maintaining a real emotional core beneath the satire, giving audiences something to invest in even as the film indulges in its wildest comedic instincts.
As guests took their seats, the New York premiere captured exactly what Fackham Hall promised to deliver in theaters: a lavishly crafted, absurdly funny send-up of one of Britain’s most beloved genres, designed to make audiences laugh together from beginning to end.
