Opened to the public in June at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, the new global exhibition offers visitors the first-ever fully immersive experience into the world of the global television phenomenon, Downton Abbey.
The exhibition will tour venues across the world including the US and will take visitors on an extraordinary journey through the grand home of Downton Abbey. Peering into the world of the Crawleys and those that waited on them, the experience will also provide a fascinating look at all aspects of the post-Edwardian period in which the multi award-winning and critically-acclaimed TV series is set.
Mather & Co, the global design consultancy behind some of the world’s most visited museums and visitor attractions including Coronation Street: The Tour, has designed Downton Abbey: The Exhibition using cutting-edge exhibit design technology.
Fans will get the chance to walk through Downton Abbey’s most recognisable locations. From Mrs Patmore’s hectic kitchen and the gossip-fuelled servants’ quarters to the glamorous Crawley dwellings, the exhibition will put visitors at the heart of the show.
Working with the award-winning production team behind the TV series, Mather & Co has designed a fully immersive experience and visitors will come close to the show’s official costumes, worn by the likes of Michelle Doherty and Hugh Bonneville, as well as viewing never-before-seen content.
Chris Mather, chief executive, Mather & Co, said: “This is certainly one of the highest profile projects we’ve ever been asked to work on – but we have excellent experience of taking a national institution like Coronation Street and turning it into an extremely successful visitor attraction. Downton has been a global phenomenon and the visitor experience we’ve designed will not disappoint fans of the show.”
The exhibition covers nine different zones where visitors can explore the key rooms in the house – some of them replicas of the original sets, others fully immersive audio visual experiences. Visitors can explore everything from the servants’ roles to the key fashions and history from the time.
Key design points include:
- The downstairs servants’ quarters sets including the servants’ hall, Carson’s pantry, the kitchen and the servants’ stairs.
- State of the art holographic technology allows visitors to meet Mrs Hughes and Carson
- More than 50 iconic costumes from the series
- Immersive multi projection spaces recreate the library and drawing room of Downton revealing details about the family and exploring the surrounding estate.
Michael Edelstein, President of NBCUniversal International Studios, said: “Downton Abbey is a global phenomenon and viewers all around the world continue to ask for more. Downton Abbey: The Exhibition allows this incredible legacy to live on by offering a multi-million dollar museum quality experience that will delight fans, ultimately extending the connection they have with Downton’s compelling characters and storylines. We are excited to expand the brand in a manner that few TV series could ever dream of doing.
More than 15,000 sq ft of exhibition space will offer an in-depth insight into the remarkable time period in which the show is set. Spanning World War I and the post-war years to the Roaring Twenties, visitors will learn more about society, culture and fashion and the historical events of the era which would go on to shape the world.
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