John Cleese adapts original TV scripts for the stage

Fawlty Towers is to hit the West End stage after John Cleese adapted his original scripts.

The new show is based two-hour play based on three of the original TV episodes: The Hotel Inspector and The Germans from series one and Communication Problems from series two.

Cleese says: ‘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.

‘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.’

The show is directed by Caroline Jay Ranger – who previously brought both Only Fools And Horses The Musical and Monty Python Live to the stage – and previews at the Apollo Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue from May 4, officially opening on  May 15.

Cleese previously presented this stage version of the sitcom in Australia in 2016, when The Guardian reviewer called it 'a fun but pointless adaptation' - but the AU Review said: 'You will laugh until it hurts.'

Paul Nicholas – best known for 1980s sitcom Just Good Friends will play The Major, below, but the rest of the cast are relative unknowns.

• Paul Nicholas as The Major and, below, in Just Good Friends

Basil  will  be played by Adam Jackson-Smith; Sybil by Anna-Jane Casey; Manuel by Hemi Yeroham and Polly by Victoria Fox.

The original TV series – which Cleese wrote with Connie Booth, who played Polly – was first broadcast on BBC Two on 19 September  19, 1975. It was based on a real-life hotel owner, Donald Sinclair who Cleese encountered when he stayed at the now-demolished Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay with the rest of the Monty Python team and became fascinated with his incredibly rude behaviour.

Tickets for the stage how will go on sale on Wednesday next week February at 10am from FawltyTowersWestend.com.

In the rest of the cast, Mrs Richards will be played 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, German played by Emma Fenney and Hotel Guests: Mia Austen, John Hasler, Dale Superville. Completing the company are Ben Jacobson and Suzy Bloom.

Published: 2 Feb 2024