Fawlty Towers stage show to launch in West End

A stage show adaptation of Fawlty Towers is set to debut in the West End. The plot of the show combines three episodes from the original TV series.

Three episodes of the TV series Fawlty Towers have been combined to create the plot of the stage adaptation.

John Cleese, the writer and creator, has adapted the play utilizing material from three BBC series episodes: “The Hotel Inspectors,” “The Germans,” and “Communication Problems.” Cleese expressed his excitement at bringing Fawlty Towers to the West End for the inaugural time, with the show set to debut at London’s Apollo Theatre on May 4th.

Regarding the casting process, Cleese mentioned, “We’ve been deeply engaged in the casting process for a while now, continually reminded of the abundance of acting talent in Britain. We meticulously distinguished between the exceptionally good and the merely very good, eventually assembling a stellar group of comedy actors.”

The two-hour play has previously been staged in Australia, marking its West End premiere.

Taking place in a fictional hotel situated in the coastal town of Torquay, Fawlty Towers depicted an irritable hotel proprietor who frequently exhibited rudeness towards demanding patrons.

In the stage adaptation, the storyline will amalgamate elements from three episodes to craft a singular narrative arc. Basil, the hotel owner, finds himself endeavoring to display unusual courtesy towards guests after receiving a tip-off about potential hotel inspectors in the vicinity. However, his intentions are thwarted by the presence of a group of Germans and a particularly challenging guest, Mrs. Richards.

John Cleese elaborated, stating, “I have adapted three of my preferred episodes for the stage and devised one grand finale, which will seamlessly intertwine the conclusions of all three episodes. Thus, from Torquay to the former BBC Television Centre, we now venture to the West End! I sincerely hope that many of you will join us at the Apollo to share in laughter together.”

In a review of the 2016 Australian run of the show, Cassie Tongue from The Guardian remarked that the episodes had been “skillfully intertwined into a cohesive narrative.” She noted that certain elements from other episodes appeared throughout the chaos, akin to Easter eggs for dedicated fans.

Despite praise for the “exemplary” cast, the production received a modest two-star rating. Tongue felt there was a lack of novelty or excitement to warrant Fawlty Towers’ adaptation as a play.

Directed by Caroline Jay Ranger, known for her work on Only Fools and Horses: The Musical and Monty Python Live, the London rendition features Adam Jackson-Smith as Basil Fawlty, Anna-Jane Casey as Sybil, Hemi Yeroham as Manuel, and Victoria Fox as Polly.

Tickets for the London show will be available starting February 7th.

In 2020, the original episode of “The Germans” faced temporary removal from certain broadcast platforms amidst the Black Lives Matter protests due to the inclusion of racial slurs. However, it was later reinstated with a cautionary disclaimer about its potentially offensive content and language.

Within the episode, Major Gowen, a recurring character, uses an offensive term, while Basil Fawlty persistently urges everyone to “not mention the war” in the presence of German guests.

John Cleese, alongside his then-wife Connie Booth, co-wrote the original TV series, with Booth also starring as Polly. The main cast included Prunella Scales as Sybil and the late Andrew Sachs as Manuel.

Despite its acclaim as one of the greatest sitcoms, “Fawlty Towers” only produced 12 half-hour episodes, airing its first series in 1975 and the second in 1979. The sitcom drew inspiration from real-life hotel owner Donald Sinclair, with Cleese conceptualizing the show during his stay at Sinclair’s Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay, where he observed Sinclair’s notably rude behavior.

Recent reports indicated Cleese’s intention to write and star in new episodes alongside his daughter Camilla.