Fawlty Towers The Play is closing in the West End.
The show announced the news while also extending its run for a final time at London’s Apollo Theatre. The show is booking to 1 March 2025.
Fawlty Towers is also set to tour the UK and Ireland from September 2025, and then head back into the West End.
Based on the much-loved BBC comedy series, Fawlty Towers The Play has been brought to life on stage by the TV show’s original writer John Cleese, who starred as Basil Fawlty in the original TV series.
Fawlty Towers opened in the West End in May 2024, scoring great reviews from London’s theatre critics.
This West End stage adaptation is directed by Caroline Jay Ranger (Only Fools and Horses The Musical, Monty Python Live), and based on three of the original TV episodes: ‘The Hotel Inspector’ and ‘The Germans’ from series one, and ‘Communication Problems’ from series two.
Writer and creator John Cleese said in a statement: “When we came up with the idea of bringing Fawlty Towers to the West End, I never thought it would get the reception that it has. It’s been almost exactly 50 years since we recorded the pilot at BBC Television Centre and I’m delighted that audiences still think it’s as funny as ever. As a result, we’ve been able to extend the West End run not once, but now twice! I believe that farce is funniest in a theatre with a live audience, and I’m very happy that this extension gives more people the chance to see our superb cast in action.”
Fawlty Towers – UK & Ireland Tour
It has also been announced that following the show’s West End run, Fawlty Towers will tour the UK and Ireland in 2025 and 2026, before returning to the West End .
The initial dates for the Fawlty Towers tour are 25 September 2025 to 1 July 2026. Tour venues are to be announced although Torquay, the setting of the Fawlty Towers Hotel, is to be included in the tour.
Creator and writer of Fawlty Towers, John Cleese, spoke about the tour on BBC show Morning Live on Friday 25 October, saying about Torquay, “Yes, they’ve never given me a hard time in Torquay, I think the publicity is worth the insult!”
About the stage production, he also said that it was “just wonderful to see people laughing like that, because when I was growing up with all those great sitcoms, and of course Tommy Cooper, Max Wall, Morecambe & Wise, people used to laugh more than they do now and I think people miss it a bit so there’s a little bit of nostalgia in the audience when they’re laughing.”
Life of Brian – The Play
John Cleese also spoke about the new stage play he has written with Monty Python partners Eric Idle and Michael Palin, based on their hit movie Life of Brian.
He told Morning Live that, “I’m very excited about this – I don’t get excited much any more. This Life of Brian is going to be very special. I’ve changed a lot of it because I feel, why do exactly the same thing?” Cleese added, “When I went to see The Producers on stage, I thought, well I’ve seen the film and I prefer the film. So I’m changing it quite a lot.”
Announced back in May 2023, Life of Brian was originally set to launch in the West End in the second half of 2024, although this now seems to have been to 2025.
The London cast of Fawlty Towers
The current London cast is led by Adam Jackson-Smith (The Girl On The Train, Outlander) as Basil Fawlty, Anna-Jane Casey (Cabaret, Girl From the North Country) as Sybil Fawlty; Hemi Yeroham (La Cage Aux Folles) as Manuel, Victoria Fox (Watching Glory Die) as Polly, and Paul Nicholas (Just Good Friends, EastEnders) as The Major.
They are joined by Rachel Izen as Mrs Richards; Steven Meo as Mr Hutchinson/German guest; Kate Russell-Smith as Miss Tibbs; Nicola Sanderson as Miss Gatsby; Greg Haiste as Mr Thurston/German guest; Danny Bayne as Mr Walt / Dr Finn; Neil Stuart as Taxi Driver/ Mr Firkins / Mr Kerr / Mr Sharp; Emma Fenney as German guest; and Hotel Guests played by Mia Austen, John Hasler, and Dale Superville. Completing the company are Ben Jacobson and Suzy Bloom.
There’s no news on the cast for the UK & Ireland tour or West End return.
Fawlty Towers The Play is based on the BBC comedy written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. It has been adapted for the stage by John Cleese and is directed by Caroline Jay Ranger. The creative team includes Set & Costume Designer Liz Ascroft, Lighting Designer Ian Scott, Casting Director Anne Vosser, Assistant Director Denise Ranger, and Resident Director Chris Kiely.
Fawlty Towers The Play is playing at the Apollo Theatre London, and must end on 1 March 2025.
Book tickets to Fawlty Towers The Play at the Apollo Theatre in London
UPDATES: First published 25 October 2024 with news of the final West End booking extension and closing date; Updated 28 October 2024 with news of the tour and London return
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