Classic BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers has been adapted for the stage, and will premiere at the West End’s Apollo Theatre from 4 May 2024.
Adapted by the TV show’s writer and star, comedy legend John Cleese, who wrote the TV series with Connie Booth, the two-hour play is based on three of the original TV episodes: ‘The Hotel Inspector’ and ‘The Germans’ from series one, and ‘Communication Problems’ from series two.
John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers – The Play will be directed by Caroline Jay Ranger (Only Fools and Horses The Musical, Monty Python Live), and the show will bring many of the beloved sitcom characters to life on stage for an unmissable evening of hilarity.
The cast will include 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.
Also, Mrs Richards will be 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 the company are Ben Jacobson and Suzy Bloom.
The creative team also includes Set & Costume Designer Liz Ascroft, Lighting Designer Ian Scott, Casting Director Anne Vosser, Assistant Director Denise Ranger, and Resident Director Chris Kiely.
Set in a fictional hotel in the seaside town of Torquay, 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, and 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.
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.
John Cleese said in a statement: “What a thrill to be bringing Fawlty Towers to the West End for the first time – nearly 50 years since the show was first recorded, in December 1974. We’ve been involved in the casting process for some time, being constantly reminded of what a wealth of acting talent we have in Britain – sorting the very, very, very good from the merely very, very good. Finally, we assembled a top-class group of comedy actors who will bring the show to the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. I’ve adapted three of my favourite episodes for the stage and written one huge finale, which will bring together the endings of all three episodes. So here we are, all the way from Torquay, via the old BBC Television Centre, to the West End! I do hope some of you will come to the Apollo to laugh together. And laugh. And laugh…”
John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers is playing at the Apollo Theatre from 4 May to 28 September 2024.
Tickets will go on sale on 7 February at 10am. Sign up to our alerts, below, to be the first to hear.
More about tickets to John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers The Play at the Apollo Theatre in London
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