Hestercombe House screening of Somerset film Pandaemonium

Pandaemonium, which explores the time that famed poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth spent in the local area, will be shown twice at the historic Hestercombe House on Saturday, September 26.

The film will screen at 2 pm and 7 pm in an event organised by Screen Somerset and the Hestercombe Gardens Trust.

It is the latest event to be held at the manor and wedding venue, which is emerging from financial difficulties that forced it to enter administration in August 25.

Organisers of the evening screening are set to secure an introductory talk by the film’s acclaimed director and Somerset resident, Julien Temple.

Starring John Hannah as William Wordsworth and Linus Roache as Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Pandaemonium is described as "a passionate story of poetry, love, and rivalry."

Shot largely in Somerset, it showcases the landscape of the Quantock Hills and Exmoor, which inspired works such as Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan.

A key scene was filmed at the Pear Pond at Hestercombe, and the screenings will take place in the property’s wood-panelled dining room, the first time the space has been used for movie-goers.

Alongside Hestercombe, local locations used for the production included Wills Neck, Kilve Beach, Nether Stowey, West Bagborough, Exmoor’s Holnicote Estate and Hodder’s Combe, as well as Wookey Hole caves.

Tickets for the screenings cost £10 (plus booking fee) and include entry to Hestercombe House and gardens, with booking available online.

Organisers say the event aims to celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary and help promote Somerset’s landscape to potential visitors.

Organisations including the Quantock Hills National Landscape will attend to highlight their work in conserving and enhancing the area’s natural beauty and heritage, and to promote The Coleridge Way – a 51‑mile walking route between Nether Stowey and Lynmouth, travelling across the Quantock Hills and Exmoor.

Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Economic Development Planning and Assets, said: "This a wonderful setting to see a film that does a fantastic job of showing off the county’s stunning countryside and literary heritage.

"It’s an opportunity to help bring some new visitors to the area, from within and beyond Somerset, and celebrate Somerset being on screen."

In the run-up to the screenings, Hestercombe will also host the ‘Julien Temple – A Life in Film’ exhibition.

Previously on display at Somerset Film’s Engine Room in Bridgwater, it is described as "a unique collection of paraphernalia celebrating the work of the pioneering director of documentaries, rockumentaries, music videos and feature films."

Screen Somerset, Somerset Council’s film office, supports and celebrates filming in the county. Last year, film and TV production generated an estimated £6.6m of spend in Somerset, according to council statistics.

Released in September 2001, Pandaemonium also stars Samantha Morton as Coleridge’s wife Sara and Emily Woof as Wordsworth’s sister Dorothy, with a supporting cast including Andy Serkis, Dexter Fletcher and Sam West.