Review: Fawlty Towers, Lyceum Theatre

My husband is a huge fan of Fawlty Towers and knows all the lines from the scripts. I had already warned him about the consequences of ‘joining in’ if the script followed the TV comedy. It would be as bad as those annoying people who sing along at a musical. But could the play live up to the nostalgia of the TV series? Would my superfan husband be impressed?

Well, the set is a great start. The reception area and dining room are faithfully recreated. There’s even a hotel bedroom above the central stairway where demanding Mrs Richards (Jemma Churchill) famously complains about the view. The TV theme plays as the show begins and is used well as incidental music to separate scenes. 

Basil Fawlty is an iconic creation and it’s hard to imagine anyone other than John Cleese playing him. Yet Danny Bayne is superb in the role. His voice, mannerisms, physicality and delivery are simply excellent. He perfectly captures all of Basil’s obsequiousness, rudeness, impatience and sarcasm. He executes the high-kicking ‘silly walk’ brilliantly in the section from ‘The Germans’ episode. It’s a hugely impressive central performance.

Understudy Emily Winter certainly looks the part as Sybil Fawlty and is credible as Basil’s sparring partner. She is wise to all Basil’s faults and schemes but she is only really used as a foil for Basil and her character somehow isn’t as integral as it is in the TV series. Similarly, Spanish waiter Manuel is played well by Hemi Yeroham, again with great physical acting. But it feels as though he is only present to be abused by Basil. Having said that, the scene where Paul Nicholas’ Major thinks a moose head is speaking, when Manuel is practising his English is very funny.

Polly was originally played by co creator Connie Booth. In her wig and costume, Joanne Clifton has a strong physical resemblance and has clearly studied Booth’s voice and cadence of speech. She recreates it well without the American accent of the original. Her physical comedy is strong with deft timing. 

To create the play, John Cleese has merged three of the original twelve episodes. Some of the characters have been given a little more stage time and the ending is slightly different, but otherwise much of the dialogue and action are taken straight from the original scripts. The humour stands the test of time well. The laughter comes as much from nostalgia as the script. There are several occasions where the knowledgeable audience laughs in anticipation of the line a character is about to say.

The show opens with Sybil on the phone hearing news that hotel inspectors are in town. Basil mistakenly thinks that one of his guests, the fussy and infuriating Mr Hutchinson (played well by Greg Haiste) is an inspector and immediately changes his usual disdain to over indulgence. The resulting farcical situations are just what aficionados expect and are executed perfectly. 

The scenes with the German guests are long anticipated. Sybil is in hospital so isn’t there to moderate Basil’s behaviour. Basil has had a blow to the head and is at his most manic when the Germans finally arrive. All the expected dialogue is there – and it is funny – but this scene feels a bit too chaotic and rushed as the play surges to its conclusion. 

And my husband? He said he was a bit disappointed with the Germans section but the first half was great. Maybe the original series is so loved because 30 minutes is the perfect length of time to spend at Fawlty Towers.

Based on the TV Series Fawlty Towers written by John Cleese and Connie Booth
Adapted for the stage by John Cleese
Directed by Caroline Jay Ranger
Set & Costumes designed by Liz Ascroft
Lighting designed by Ian Scott
Sound designed by Rory Madden

Fawlty Towers is on tour throughout the UK until 4 August 2026.