John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers Comes to London’s West End in Stage Adaptation

A stage adaptation of the classic TV sitcom Fawlty Towers is set to come to London’s West End, almost 50 years after the first episode was recorded at the BBC.

John Cleese, co-writer and star of Fawlty Towers, has written a two-hour play based on three episodes from the show’s two series. The play, titled Fawlty Towers: The Play, will merge the episodes The Hotel Inspectors, The Germans, and Communication Problems into one, combining their iconic storylines and memorable moments.

The production will make its debut at London’s Apollo Theatre on May 15, nearly five decades after the first episode was filmed at the BBC Television Centre in December 1974. Tickets for the show will go on sale on Wednesday, February 7, at 10am.

Fawlty Towers, written by Cleese and Connie Booth, originally aired on BBC Two from 1975 to 1979. The show followed the comedic misadventures of the highly-strung hotel owner Basil Fawlty and his wife Sybil as they struggled to manage their quirky staff and keep their hotel running smoothly.

Director Caroline Jay Ranger, known for her work on Only Fools And Horses The Musical and Monty Python Live, has been tasked with bringing the beloved characters of Fawlty Towers back to life on stage. Adam Jackson-Smith will portray Basil Fawlty in the production.

Regarded as one of the greatest British sitcoms of all time, Fawlty Towers received critical acclaim and won two BAFTA awards for Best Situation Comedy. In 2019, it was named the greatest British sitcom of all time by a panel of television experts for the Radio Times magazine.

Now, Cleese has assembled a talented group of comedy actors to perform Fawlty Towers: The Play at the Apollo Theatre. He has adapted and combined the three episodes he wrote into one cohesive story, along with a special finale that brings all the plotlines together.

John Cleese, who has become known for his outspoken opinions on various topics, including his criticism of the BBC, is thrilled to be bringing Fawlty Towers to the West End for the first time. The play will take the audience on a hilarious journey from Torquay to the West End, paying homage to the show’s roots and its enduring popularity.