Fawlty Towers is coming to the West End with a new adaptation by John Cleese
2 February 2024, 09:33 | Updated: 2 February 2024, 10:40
Fawlty Towers – The Play official trailer
Ahead of a reported planned sequel, the "original" Fawlty Towers is coming to the stage.
Listen to this article
Loading audio...
Classic sitcom Fawlty Towers has been adapted for the West End with a new production coming to London’s Apollo Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue this spring.
The two-hour play has been adapted from three episodes of the original show by one of its creators and stars John Cleese.
- Fawlty Towers reboot: John Cleese to revive classic sitcom with his daughter Camilla
- John Cleese reveals the new Fawlty Towers will start with Sybil's funeral
- John Cleese remembers "glorious madness and generosity" of George Harrison for saving Life of Brian
Fawlty Towers – The Play is based on ‘The Hotel Inspector’ and ‘The Germans’ from series one of the show, and ‘Communication Problems’ from series two.
Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, February 7 at 10am from FawltyTowersWestEnd.
The play opens on Wednesday, May 15 with previews starting on May 4.
John Cleese said: "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."
He continued: "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……..."
Basil will played by Adam Jackson-Smith, Sybil by Anna-Jane Casey; Manuel by Hemi Yeroham, and Polly by Victoria Fox.
John Cleese on Fawlty Towers, George Harrison and staying creative
The supporting cast will see The Major played by Paul Nicholas, Mrs Richards by Rachel Izen, Mr Hutchinson/German guest by Steven Meo, Miss Tibbs by Kate Russell-Smith, Miss Gatsby by Nicola Sanderson, Mr Thurston/German guest by Greg Haiste, Mr Walt / Dr Finn by Danny Bayne, Taxi Driver/ Mr Firkins / Mr Kerr / Mr Sharp by Neil Stuart, and German guest by Emma Fenney.
The cast is rounded out by Hotel Guests Mia Austen, John Hasler, and Dale Superville and players Ben Jacobson and Suzy Bloom.
Fawlty Towers – The Play is directed by Caroline Jay Ranger, who previously worked on both Only Fools and Horses The Musical and Monty Python Live.
As well as this stage adaptation, last year it emerged that Cleese had been working on a revival of Fawlty Towers together with his daughter Camilla.
Cleese later revealed that the show would start off with Sybil's funeral.
Cleese had previously brushed off any suggestion of a return for the classic sitcom, which ran for just 12 episodes over two series in 1975 and 1979.
Over the years there have been three failed attempts to adapt Fawlty Towers for the US: Chateau Snavely in 1979, Amanda’s in 1983 and Payne in 1999.
