John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers – The Play, returns to the West End’s Apollo Theatre this Summer, for a strictly limited three-month season from 24 June – 13 September, ahead of a UK tour.
This “as good as comedy gets” production (Sunday Times) – which first opened in May 2024 to a host of rave reviews – is directed by originating West End director Caroline Jay Ranger, and stars Danny Bayne as Basil Fawlty, Mia Austen as Sybil, Hemi Yeroham reprising his role as Manuel, Joanne Clifton as Polly, Paul Nicholas reprising his role as The Major and Helen Lederer as Mrs Richards (Jemma Churchill will play the role on tour).
Nearly 50 years since Fawlty Towers was first broadcast on BBC Two on 19 September 1975, comedy legend John Cleese, who originally co-wrote the “greatest British sitcom of all time” (Radio Times) with Connie Booth, has chosen three of his favourite original TV episodes – ‘The
Hotel Inspector’ and ‘The Germans’ from series one and ‘Communication Problems’ from series two – and adapted them into a two-hour play.
The play also features other beloved characters from the original TV sitcom: Mr Hutchinson / Wilhelm played by Greg Haiste; Miss Tibbs played by Emily Winter; Miss Gatsby played by Dawn Buckland; Mr Thurston / Günter played by John Hasler; Mr Walt played by Adam Elliott; Taxi Driver/ Mr Firkins / Mr Kerr / Mr Sharp played by Neil Stewart; and Johanna and Liz (Hotel Guest) played by Josie Brightwell. Completing the company of players are Ashleigh Harvey playing Debbie (Hotel Guest), Ben Jacobson playing Ken (Hotel Guest), Matthew Gordon playing Mr Dale (Hotel Guest) and Raymond Rose playing Philip (Hotel Guest).
Following a tip off that hotel inspectors may be visiting and eager to impress, Basil attempts to ingratiate himself with guests that he suspects are there to critique the establishment. The situation is further plagued by a party of Germans, the deaf and dotty guest-from-hell, Mrs Richards, whose infuriating complaints prevent him from hiding a gambling win from his ever vigilant and bossy wife, Sybil. Together they run their hotel with a little help from the unflappable Polly, and very little help at all from Manuel, the trainee waiter from Barcelona who is the butt of Fawlty’s frustration.
Set in a fictional hotel in the seaside town of Torquay, only 12 half hour episodes of the original BBC comedy were ever made. Based on a real-life hotel owner, Donald Sinclair. John Cleese came up with the idea for the character Basil Fawlty when he stayed at Sinclair’s Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay and became fascinated with his incredibly rude behaviour.
The iconic TV show won many awards and plaudits including two BAFTAS for Best Situation Comedy and in 2000 it was voted the best British programme of all time in a British Film Institute poll.
Following the West End summer season, this unmissable evening of “Fawltless” (Mail on Sunday) comedy will tour major theatres across the country from 30 September 2025 – 25 July 2026.
30 September – 4 October Churchill Theatre, Bromley
07 – 11 October Eastbourne Congress Theatre
14 – 18 October Bournemouth Pavilion
21 – 25 October New Wimbledon Theatre
28 October – 1 November Wycombe Swan Theatre
04 – 08 November Manchester Opera House
11 – 15 November Liverpool Empire
18 – 22 November Northampton Royal & Derngate
25 – 29 November Southend Cliffs Pavilion
02 – 06 November Theatre Royal Plymouth
09 – 20 November Guildford G Live
06 – 10 January Leeds Grand Theatre
13 – 17 January King’s Theatre, Glasgow
20 – 24 January Aberdeen Music Hall
27 – 31 January Edinburgh Playhouse
03 – 07 February Sunderland Empire
10 – 21 February Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
24 – 28 February Regent Theatre, Stoke
03 – 07 March Southampton Mayflower
10 – 14 March Ipswich Regent Theatre
17 – 21 March Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre
24 – 28 March Bradford Alhambra Theatre
31 March – 4 April Blackpool Opera House
14 – 18 April Princess Theatre, Torquay
21 – 25 April Truro Hall for Cornwall
28 April – 02 May Milton Keynes Theatre
05 – 09 May Llandudno Venue Cymru
12 – 16 May Hull New Theatre
19 – 23 May Grand Opera House, York
26 – 30 May New Victoria Theatre, Woking
02 – 06 June Theatre Royal, Nottingham
09 – 13 June Norwich Theatre Royal
23 – 27 June Cardiff Wales Millenium Centre
30 June – 4 July Newcastle Theatre Royal
07 – 11 July Orchard Theatre, Dartford
14 – 18 July New Theatre, Oxford
21 July – 25 July Dublin Bord Gais Theatre
Additional information (West End)
Show Times
Tuesday – Saturday, 7.30pm
Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday, 2.30pm
Running Time
1hr 50mins including an interval
Theatre
Apollo Theatre
Age Recommendation
Suitable for all ages
Access Performances
TBC
What did I think?
“a gorgeously truthful homage to fifty years of comedy genius” ★★★★. Read my full review.
