Review of 'Fawlty Towers: The Play'

https://fawltytowerstour.co.uk/

“Fawlty Towers” has to be one of my favourite television shows of all time. It is a shame they only made twelve episodes and I suspect they will never make another show quite like it - Rude, violent, sexist, racist…Though, incredibly, still very funny. John Cleese (who stared in the show as Basil Fawlty) and his future wife Connie Booth (who starred in the show as Poly, the housekeeper) wrote the brilliant television series that is massively English. Set in Torquay on the south coast of England, it features a hapless innkeeper Basil Fawlty living with his stern, sensible wife Sybil along with their staff Manuel, a Spaniard who has never learned English leading to great hilarity, and Poly, the most sensible of the lot. They have long term residents like the major and two older ladies as well that feature throughout the series.

In recent years John Cleese created a play based on the television show. It pulls together story elements from four classic episodes: “The Hotel Inspectors,” “Communication Problems,” and “The Germans” into a 90 minute show (excluding the single interval). These are the best of the episodes and what ends up on the stage is absolutely hilarious.

The set looks pretty much exactly like the hotel in the television series with the front desk, dining room, staircase and a single upstairs bedroom perched above (amazing construction considering this is a traveling show – it only played in Stoke for 4 days!). There is always something going on with the set, unnamed guests coming and going never mind the frenetic action of Basil (played by a wonderful Danny Bayne who does not look like Cleese but has the mannerisms down as well as the physicality) getting into yet more trouble. Mia Austen plays Sybil and is indistinguishable from Prunella Scales from the television series both the mannerisms, the talk, and even looks like her. Manuel, played by Hemi Yeroham has the most difficult role as he suffers no ends of punishment and spends most of his time running here, there and everywhere around the set. Yeroham pitches the performance perfectly and makes the role his own while managing to capture the essence of the somewhat one-dimensional character (though, let's face it, they are all pretty one-dimensional). I have no complaints at all about any of the performers who have taken the material and really brought it to life with an incredible amount of precision choreography and timing. To keep it up, live, for 90 minutes is to be commended.

The play does tend to drag a bit with some repeated jokes getting a bit grating towards the end (for example, the hard of hearing guest) but it manages to wrap things up before we get too tired of it all. Even if you are not too familiar (or not at all familiar) with the show you will likely find this quite funny but, of course, fans will appreciate it most of all. A lot of not-terribly PC fun, but a good laugh anyway.

The programme was not too expensive (though hard to find as it was the last night) and contains the normal biographies of all the cast and creatives along with a play synopsis, some pictures and a (tough) Fawlty Tower quiz.

Rating: “Really good but I have some issues”

Review Date: 2026-02-28

Location: Staffordshire (England)

Address: Piccadilly, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 1AP ENGLAND

Public Transport: Stoke-on-Trent

URL: https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre/

Originally constructed as a cinema, Regent Theatre is located in the middle of Stoke-on-Trent in the “Theatre District” in Hanley. The interior is sparce and vaguely art nouveau with large open spaces and a confusing floor plan.

The foyer has a cloak room, box office, a bar and a kiosk (or two) while there are bars on the two levels: Stalls and Circle (there are also toilet facilities throughout). “The Piano Bar” is of particular note on the first floor as it has comfortable seating with views out the large front window of the theatre into the street.

The auditorium is quite large with a massive circular light in the ceiling along with older style decor. The seats are all in great shape and very, very comfortable with the ability to order from your seat (by scanning the QR code) and rent binoculars if you are a bit of a distance from the stage. Sightlines are generally very good with no pillars in the way though in the circle there are two staircase entrances that can obstruct views for anyone sitting near them.

They offer a good range of events/shows here that change fairly often as is common with the touring companies that visit.