The seventies comedy series
Fawlty Towers, written by John Cleese and Connie Booth, remains one of the most enduring shows of all time. While some now frown on some of the content as being politically incorrect, it is impossible to see the antics of Basil Fawlty, his wife Sybil, and his staff as anything other than stunningly clever TV comedy of the highest standard. So, when news broke that Cleese was adapting three of his most famous episodes for the stage, there was a mix of naysayers predicting failure and jubilators ready for success. As the show now rolls into Royal & Derngate as part of an extensive tour following a hugely successful London run, the naysayers have gone quiet, and the audiences are packed.
For those unfamiliar with the show,
Fawlty Towers featured inept hotel manager Basil Fawlty battling everything from corpses and rats to Germans in his campaign to create the very best hotel, despite his constant annoyance with humanity, including the guests. At his side are Sybil, his wife; Connie, the maid; and Manuel, the waiter. The stage play sees episodes
The Germans,
The Hotel Inspector, and (my personal favourite of the original series)
Communication Problems all woven together into one chaotic mix.
The cast assembled for the tour is superb, both evoking the feel of their original characters and adding their own touches. Danny Bayne plays Basil with perfect chaos. His Basil brings with it all the classic mannerisms viewers will remember, including the side looks and hidden pained expressions. His height also allows the gangly nature of the character, as was created by Cleese himself, to come to the fore. It is a good performance made in the shadow of greatness itself.
Sybil, Basil's wife, is brought to life here by Mia Austen, who delves into the character with skill, opening with that trademark laugh; she is every bit the domineering wife keeping Basil at her heel. Joanne Clifton as maid Polly is equally in control, quietly and authoritatively running the hotel as the warring couple bicker, although within the play is given surprisingly little to do.
The perfect chaotic foil for Basil in the original series was Manuel, and Hemi Yeroham is superb bringing him to life in this production, one of the best performances. There is much of Andrew Sachs' performance within his playing of the character, but also much more, with a slightly more minxing nature, managing to infuriate Basil even more than originally. Magnífico!
The rest of the cast drips nostalgia through their characters and styles, with a quietly comic Paul Nicholas bringing his own delightful take on the forgetful Major. Greg Haiste clearly delights in taking on the role of Mr Hutchinson, made famous by the legend that was Bernard Cribbins, and effortlessly creates that oh-so-irritating voice.
Adam Elliot is a delightfully confused Mr Walt, witnessing much carnage around him in a calm manner. Finally, Jemma Churchill brings her own overpowering Mrs Richards to the stage, one of the best non-regular characters. Her interactions with all the staff are a delight and among the show's best moments.
Liz Ascroft's set and costumes are superb, cleverly bringing all the key locations to the stage at once, allowing director Caroline Jay Ranger to keep the pace required for the farcical antics. Ascroft's costumes also represent everything from the original, making this a visually perfect replica of the TV series.
What do you get from the stage show that you wouldn't get from a home rewatch of the original series? The answer is not a great deal, as Cleese has deliberately created here just a stage show of the series with very little new content, bar a few clever weaves of the episodes. However, what you do get is a wave of nostalgia and, indeed, joy, being surrounded by an audience feeling the same and watching a cast at the top of their game, and for that, Fawlty Towers - The Play deserves your attention.
A delightfully staged trip down memory lane.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Performance reviewed: Tuesday, 18th November 2025, at the Royal & Derngate, Northampton.
Fawlty Towers is at Royal & Derngate until Saturday, 22nd November 2025.
For further details about the Royal & Derngate and to book tickets, see their website at http://www.royalandderngate.co.uk
Production photos: Hugo Glendinning
