John Cleese, co-writer and star of Fawlty Towers, has announced that a stage adaptation of the popular sitcom is headed for London’s West End. The two-hour play is based on three episodes from the TV series: ‘The Hotel Inspector’, ‘The Germans’, and ‘Communication Problems’. The production is set to debut on May 15 at the Apollo Theatre, 47 years after the show’s first episode was filmed in December 1974 at the BBC Television Centre.
Cleese has adapted his favorite three episodes of the series for the new production and has also written a finale that unites all three episodes. “We’ve been involved in the casting process for some time,” said Cleese, praising the “top-class group of comedy actors” who will bring the show to Shaftesbury Avenue. The playwright has also acknowledged the “wealth of acting talent” in Britain.
The upcoming play will be directed by Caroline Jay Ranger, known for her work on Only Fools and Horses: The Musical and Monty Python Live. Adam Jackson-Smith will play Basil, the hot-headed Torquay hotelier who tries to impress guests he suspects are posing as inspectors.
Cleese is excited about bringing Fawlty Towers to the West End, saying, “All the way from Torquay, via the old BBC Television Centre, to the West End.” The TV sitcom, co-written by Cleese and Connie Booth, ran for two series from 1975-1979.
Last year, Cleese revealed that he and his daughter would be producing a rebooted version of Fawlty Towers, exploring how Basil Fawlty would navigate the modern world. As yet, it’s unclear whether the project is still going ahead. Tickets for the stage adaptation will go on sale on Wednesday, February 7 at 10 am
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