Fawlty Towers - The Play

John Cleese and Connie Booth (stage adaptation by John Cleese)

Opera House, Manchester

November 4-8, 2025; 2 hrs

(also at a large number of other theatres, including Liverpool Empire, November 11-15; [*]Leeds Grand, January 6-10; Sunderland Empire, February 3-7; Bradford Alhambra, March 24-28; Blackpool Opera House, April 2-4; Sheffield Lyceum, April 7-11; [*]Venue Cymru, May 5-9; Hull New Theatre, May 12-16; York Grand Opera House, May 19-23; [*]Theatre Royal Newcastle, June 30-July 4. [*] - Paul Nicholas will not appear at these venues)

A battle of minds. Or perhaps not. Danny Bayne and Hemi Yeroham as Basil and Manuel in Fawlty Towers - The Play. Pics: Hugo Glendinning

“I can’t see [it] being anything but a disaster," was the infamously bad opinion given in 1974 by Iain Main, at the time BBC's light entertainment comedy script editor, about the original Fawlty Towers TV scripts. And here we are, 50 years later, still wondering if he could have been more wrong about a sitcom that has ingrained itself so deeply into the national consciousness.

The original (and only) 12 episodes were written by and starred John Cleese and his then-wife, Connie Booth, and this stage adaptation has been adapted by Cleese and is now on a long UK tour, after a sold-out West end run last year.

The play opens on a set, designed by Liz Ascroft, that is faithful to the TV version, complete with reception, dining room, bedroom, and even the outside view of the hotel. The play too, in the hands of director Caroline Jay Ranger, remains faithful to the original. And therein lies its strength - but also its weakness. The plot, such as it is, pulls together three of the most famous Fawlty Towers episodes – The Hotel Inspectors, Communication Problems, and The Germans.

For those unfamiliar with the premise, this is a farce which, like all good farces, is based on misunderstandings – who is really the hotel inspector, who placed the bet... and try not to mention the war. The problem is that these are so familiar they have lost much of their impact. At times the play is a copy, or an impersonation, as are most of the characters. But this isn't to detract from some very good performances, and in particular some excellent comic timing.

Danny Bayne, as hotelier Basil Fawlty, puts a lot of energy into the role, including the preposterous silly-walks goosestep in the German episode, courtesy of his ridiculously long legs.

Mia Austen as his domineering wife, Sybil, doesn’t quite hit the mark, but how could anyone currently live up to original Sybil, the much-loved Prunella Scales, just days after her passing? I've no doubt she will be more comfortable in the role as the tour (until next July), progresses.

“Che? I know nothing!” Hapless Spanish waiter Manuel (Hemi Yeroham) is suitably endearing, and Jemma Churchill, though a bit too shouty as Mrs Richards (originally the naturally stentorian Joan Sanderson) approaches the role with gusto.

Paul Nicholas, a huge heart-throb in his twenties, is now 80 and plays a corker as the dotty hotel resident known only as The Major.    

For those who have always loved, and will always love, Fawlty Towers, this is probably one of the best things ever. For everyone else it's probably just a good night out.

More info and tickets here