FAWLTY Towers is being given a makeover – with lead star John Cleese revealing an adaptation is heading to the West End stage.
The comedy legend, 84, has created a new script to bring the beloved comedy back to life for a run at London’s Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.
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The two-hour play, written by Cleese, will be based on three of the TV show’s most classic episodes – The Hotel Inspector, The Germans, and Communication Problems.
Adam Jackson-Smith will take over the lead role of Basil Fawlty from Cleese, with Anna-Jane Casey playing his long-suffering wife, Sybil.
Bumbling Spanish waiter Manuel will be played by Hemi Yeroham, with the role of Polly being played by Victoria Fox.
It will mark 50 years since the show was first recorded at BBC Television Centre, setting it up to become one of the most definitive British sitcoms of all time.
In a statement announcing the show, Cleese said: “What a thrill to be bringing Fawlty Towers to the West End for the first time – nearly 50 years since the show was first recorded, in December 1974.
“We’ve been involved in the casting process for some time, being constantly reminded of what a wealth of acting talent we have in Britain – sorting the very, very, very good from the merely very, very good.”
“Finally, we assembled a top-class group of comedy actors who will bring the show to the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.”
“I’ve adapted three of my favourite episodes for the stage and written one huge finale, which will bring together the endings of all three episodes,” he concluded.
“So here we are, all the way from Torquay, via the old BBC Television Centre, to the West End! I do hope some of you will come to the Apollo to laugh together. And laugh. And laugh…”
Previews start from May 4, with the official premiere being May 15.
Tickets go on sale on Wednesday 7 February at 10.00am from FawltyTowersWestend.com.
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