0
Comedy legend John Cleese’s beloved sitcom gets a bold new incarnation: Fawlty Towers – The Play is set to embark on a major UK & Ireland tour, running from 30 September 2025 through July 2026.
Fresh from two sold-out and critically acclaimed West End seasons, this new stage version blends three classic episodes — The Hotel Inspector, The Germans and Communication Problems — into a vibrant two-hour farce with a brand-new finale, co-written and adapted by Cleese himself.
Directed by West End-originating director Caroline Jay Ranger and featuring a stellar cast including Danny Bayne (Basil Fawlty), Mia Austen (Sybil), Hemi Yeroham (Manuel), Joanne Clifton (Polly) and Paul Nicholas (The Major) alongside Jemma Churchill (Mrs Richards), the production promises “the funniest show in town” (Daily Express) and has already been hailed as “as good as comedy gets” (Sunday Times).
Marking nearly 50 years since the original sitcom debuted on BBC Two on 19 September 1975, Fawlty Towers returns to the limelight, more chaotic, sharper and funnier than ever.
Theatregoers across the country are in for a treat as this “comedy masterpiece makes a seamless transition to the stage” (The Arts Desk) to deliver “an indisputably funny evening”
(Daily Telegraph), as “from the moment Basil walks on stage, the audience start laughing” (Daily Mail) whilst watching “some of the best punchlines ever written” (London Theatre). To
quote Broadway World; “if you loved the original TV series, you will adore this show”.
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 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.
Set in a fictional hotel in the seaside town of Torquay, only 12 half hour episodes of the original BBC comedy were ever made. Based on a real-life hotel owner, Donald Sinclair. John
Cleese came up with the idea for the character Basil Fawlty when he stayed at Sinclair’s Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay and became fascinated with his incredibly rude behaviour.
The iconic TV show won 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.
Creative Team:
Written by John Cleese & Connie Booth
Adapted for the stage by John Cleese
Directed by Caroline Jay Ranger
Set and Costume Designer – Liz Ascroft
Lighting Designer – Ian Scott
Casting Director – Anne Vosser
Assistant Director – Denise Ranger
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Website: FawltyTowersTour.co.uk
Performance Times
Tuesday – Saturday: 7:30pm
Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday: 2:30pm
Fawlty Towers – The Play 2025 / 26 UK Tour
2025
DATE VENUE
30 September – 4 October Bromley, Churchill Theatre
7 – 11 October Eastbourne, Congress Theatre
14 – 18 October Bournemouth Pavilion
21 – 25 October New Wimbledon Theatre
28 October – 1 November High Wycombe, Swan Theatre
4 – 8 November Manchester, Opera House
11 – 15 November Liverpool Empire
18 – 22 November Northampton, Royal &; Derngate
25 – 29 November Southend, Cliffs Pavilion
2 – 6 December Plymouth, Theatre Royal
9 – 20 December Guildford, G Live
2026
6 – 10 January Leeds, Grand Theatre*
13 – 17 January Glasgow, King’s Theatre
20 – 24 January Aberdeen, Music Hall
27 – 31 January Edinburgh Playhouse
3 – 7 February Sunderland, Empire Theatre
10 – 21 February Wolverhampton, Grand Theatre
24 – 28 February Stoke, Regent Theatre
3 – 7 March Southampton Mayflower
10 – 14 March Ipswich, Regent Theatre
17 – 21 March Birmingham, New Alexandra Theatre
24 – 28 March Bradford, Alhambra Theatre
2 – 4 April Blackpool, Opera House
7-11 April Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre
14 – 18 April Torquay, Princess Theatre
21 – 25 April Truro, Hall for Cornwall
28 April – 2 May Milton Keynes Theatre
5 – 9 May Llandudno, Venue Cymru*
12 – 16 May Hull, New Theatre
19 – 23 May York, Grand Opera House
26 – 30 May Woking, New Victoria Theatre
2 – 6 June Nottingham, Theatre Royal
9 – 13 June Norwich, Theatre Royal
16 – 20 June Portsmouth, Kings Theatre
23 – 27 June Cardiff, Wales Millenium Centre
30 June – 4 July Newcastle, Theatre Royal*
14 – 18 July Oxford, New Theatre
21 July – 25 July Canterbury, Marlowe Theatre