Danny Bayne, Mia Austen, Hemi Yeroham, Joanne Clifton, Paul Nicholas and Helen Lederer are in rehearsals for the West End return of John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers – The Play, which is back at the Apollo Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue this summer.
Bayne stars as Basil Fawlty, with Austen as Sybil, Yeroham reprising his role as Manuel, Clifton as Polly, Nicholas reprising his role as The Major and Lederer as Mrs Richards in a production directed by Caroline Jay Ranger.
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.
Nearly 50 years since Fawlty Towers was first broadcast on BBC Two on September 19, 1975, comedy legend Cleese, who originally co-wrote the series with Connie Booth, has chosen three of his favourite original TV episodes – The Hotel Inspector and The Germans from season one and Communication Problems from season two – and adapted them into a two-hour play. It first opened in May 2024.
The creative team includes set & costume designer Liz Ascroft, lighting designer Ian Scott, casting director Anne Vosser and assistant director Denise Ranger.
Following the West End summer season, the comedy will tour major theatres across the country from September 30, 2025 – August 8, 2026.
Fawlty Towers – The Play will open on June 24 for a strictly three-month season until September 13. Get tickets here.
All images: Fawlty Towers – The Play in rehearsals. Photo credit Hugo Glendinning (images supplied)