Celebrating Jane Austen: Regency Festival

Janette Haslam

Discover the intricate world of a professional ladies' period costumier. This lecture explores the project life cycle from initial contact to final deadline, budget restrictions, and the collaborative process with designers and artists across film, theatre, television, musicals, ballet, and opera. The session will feature past work, from Elizabethan to a selection of Regency costumes.

Friday 12 June, 11am
Garden Talk Marquee

Saturday 13 June, 12pm
Sunday 14 June, 12pm
The Old Potting Shed

Olivia Housley

Fashioning Elegance: Hair, Beauty and Hygiene in Regency

Discover the world of hair, make up and hygiene in Regency Britain. In this talk you’ll learn about what inspired certain trends and what ingredients were required to create such concoctions. 

Olivia is an experienced Textiles Technician at Chatsworth.

Friday 12 June, 12pm
The Old Potting Shed

Zack Pinsent

'Dressing Mr Darcy’

A dressing demonstration and presentation on the layers of men’s Regency clothing and their significance in fashion history using original 19th-century garments. Zack Pinsent is a Bespoke Period Tailor, fashion stylist and historian who only wears Regency period clothing, which he makes for himself and clients all over the world. 

Friday 12 June, 12.30pm
Saturday 13 June, 10.30am
Sunday 14 June, 1.15pm
Garden Talk Marquee

Lizzie Dunford

Join the Director of Jane Austen’s House Museum to explore Austen’s work through the lens of storytelling.

This lively talk will use treasures from the House, facsimiles and facts to explore the globally beloved author as a spinner of tales and the master of her craft. We will delve into Austen’s writings, how she wrote, and what she read, as we share and discover the magic of her work and her ongoing inspirational legacy. 

Friday 12 June, 2pm
Saturday 13 June, 4pm
Sunday 14 June, 10.30am
Garden Talk Marquee

Austen Quiz with Sophie Andrews

Step into the world of Jane Austen and put your knowledge to the test. A fun interactive journey exploring Austen's novels, letters, characters and popular adaptations. 

Friday 12 June, 4pm
Sunday 14 June, 4pm
Garden Talk Marquee

Amanda Vickery

Was Jane Austen Political?

This talk with Amanda Vickery, author, broadcaster, and Professor of Early Modern History at Queen Mary, University of London, searches through all the available conceptions of politics, asking what Austen’s share might have been: from monarchy and court to social politics in London in the season, and in the county out of it.

Saturday 13 June, 12pm & 2pm
Garden Talk Marquee

Kate Evans

Reimagining Regency England.

Austen's writing includes very little visual description; we learn that a character has "a fine countenance" or "noble mien", or that a house is "a large, handsome stone building, situated well on rising ground." Author and graphic novelist Kate Evans takes us through the visual resources she uses to create a window into Regency England. 

Saturday 13 June, 12.15pm
Sunday 14 June, 12pm
Garden Talk Marquee

Regency themed tours of Chatsworth House

Daily, 12.30pm & 3pm, meet at the house entrance.

Experience a Regency-themed tour of Chatsworth House, including some of the locations featured in the 2005 adaptation of 'Pride & Prejudice', such as the Sculpture Gallery. 

Free to join, availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Portrait Painting

Daily

Experienced portrait artist Charlotte Atkinson will be painting portraits in the garden.  Each likeness will be captured in watercolour with a hand-painted decorative surround, and inscribed with the sitter's name. With a distinctive flowing style, each portrait takes around 10 minutes to create and is yours to take home.   

There is no extra charge to have your portrait painted. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Regency Dress Up Photo Opportunities

Daily

Dive into our Regency-themed dressing-up box and live out your Pride and Prejudice fantasies. From frocks and bonnets to dress coats and cravats, find your perfect look before heading to our giant photo frame to capture the moment on camera.  

Our dressing-up photo opportunity is included with your ticket.

Grand Promenade

Daily, 3pm

While Regency dress is optional (and encouraged!), those who do turn up in their period finery are invited to join our daily promenade along the Broad Walk. 

There is no additional charge for joining the promenade.

Austen Theatrical Performances

Daily, from 1.15pm
Chatsworth House

The Chatsworth Players perform scenes from Austen's best-loved novels for visitors to the house.

Daily, times tbc
Salisbury Lawn, Garden

Time Will Tell Theatre perform 'Service & Servility', an original play exploring the role of servants in Austen's world. 

Live music

Daily, 12.30pm & 3.15pm

Live music from Anna Downes in the garden.

Anne Lister Dancers

13 & 14 June, 12.30pm & 3.15pm

Regency dancing demonstrations in the garden.

Carriage Rides

13 & 14 June, from 11am - 3.30pm

Live out your Regency drama fantasies with a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. 

Separate ticketed event.