A full house, despite a very warm evening, was all wondering what to expect.

The basic but clever scenery was clearly the Downton Abbey we thought we knew.

All the usual suspects were present, plus several unexpected guests, but all played by one man.

What a gifted mimic Luke Kempner is. He portrayed them all by both voices and facial expressions.

His well-targeted, quick-fire dialogue had the audience hooting with laughter from the outset.

He had also written the script and the mirth continued until we were finally captivated by his imaginative and hilarious Downton Abbey, The Musical.

A splendid performance. Those who enjoyed it will never be able to watch the TV programme again without laughing internally at its sombre characters.

TED EAST