Currently playing to sold-out houses at London’s Apollo Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue, John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers – The Play, today announces a major theatre tour for 2025 and 2026.
Where and when?
Fifty years since it was first recorded at BBC Television Centre in 1974, the “greatest British sitcom of all time” (Radio Times) Fawlty Towers, has been adapted for the West End stage by comedy legend John Cleese and is premiering at London’s Apollo Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue until 1 March 2025.
Following the hugely successful West End run – which has seen the show extend twice – “the funniest show in town” (Daily Express) will embark on the 10-month tour across the UK and Ireland on 30 September 2025 through to July 2026.
2025
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
2026
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
Who’s in the cast?
West End: Basil played by Adam Jackson-Smith; Sybil played by Anna-Jane Casey; Manuel played by Hemi Yeroham; Polly played by Victoria Fox; The Major played by Paul Nicholas; Mrs Richards played by Rachel Izen; Mr Hutchinson/German guest played by Steven Meo; Miss Tibbs played by Kate Russell-Smith; Miss Gatsby played by Nicola Sanderson; Mr Thurston/German guest played by Greg Haiste; Mr Walt / Dr Finn played by Danny Bayne; Taxi Driver/ Mr Firkins / Mr Kerr / Mr Sharp played by Neil Stuart, German guest played by Emma Fenney and Hotel Guests: Mia Austen, John Hasler, Dale Superville. Completing our company of players are Ben Jacobson and Suzy Bloom.
Tour: TBC
Creative team
Cleese, who co-wrote the original TV series with Connie Booth and starred as the inimitable Basil Fawlty, has written a two-hour play based on three of the original TV episodes – ‘The Hotel Inspector’ and ‘The Germans’ from series one and ‘Communication Problems’ from series two.
Directed by Caroline Jay Ranger (Only Fools and Horses The Musical & Monty Python Live), John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers will bring many of the beloved sitcom characters to life on stage for an unmissable evening of hilarity.
What’s the show about?
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.
Fawlty Towers was first broadcast on BBC Two on 19 September 1975. The iconic TV show went on to win 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. Set in a fictional hotel in the seaside town of Torquay, just 12 half hour episodes of the iconic comedy were made.
The sitcom is based on a real-life hotel owner, Donald Sinclair. John Cleese came up with the idea for the character of Basil Fawlty when he stayed at Sinclair’s Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay and became fascinated with his incredibly rude behaviour.
Assisted performances
TBC
What did I think?
“a gorgeously truthful homage to fifty years of comedy genius” ★★★★. Read my full review.
Where can I get tickets?
https://westendwilma.londontheatredirect.com/play/john-cleeses-fawlty-towers-the-play-tickets
