Theatre Review: Fawlty Towers at the Alexandra Theatre Birmingham

AD: This Press Night Review refers to the 2026 Touring Production of Fawlty Towers, at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham*

Despite originally being broadcast in the mid-70s, I have fond memories of watching episodes of the British hotel-based sitcom Fawlty Towers throughout my childhood. After all, it was gentle comedy, full of the kind of slapstick comedy that would tickle all ages alike. Only 12 episodes were ever made, yet the show spawned many quotable moments. And in this translation from screen to stage, the finest are brought to life.

The brainchild of John Cleese and Connie Booth, Fawlty Towers is a fictional hotel in Torquay, run by the rude-mannered Basil Fawlty (played by Cleese in the original series) and his bullying wife Sybil. They are assisted by Spanish waiter Manuel and patient housemaid Polly, the lone voice of sanity. Their guests are equally eccentric, from the forgetful Major to the hard-of-hearing Mrs Richards.

Cleese himself had a hand in this adaptation, which weaves together a trio of timeless episodes into one seamless narrative: The Hotel Inspectors, The Germans and Communication Problems. There’s always a sense of trepidation when a classic show is adapted for the stage. Audience members of a certain generation will have certain expectations – and this sell-out opening performance was clearly full of mega-fans. However the show is constructed in such a way that even those not familiar with the original show will find plenty to enjoy.

From the moment we first hear that iconic theme tune, it is clear that director Caroline Jay Ranger is giving the people what they want – an entertaining production with all of the farce, slapstick and razor-sharp dialogue intact. Every punchline lands – even when many are already anticipating it.

The show remains faithful to the TV show, particularly the set by Liz Ascroft which is an impressively detailed recreation. This is not just a stage setting; we’re transported straight into the shambolic seaside hotel. Familiar rooms are stacked like a doll’s house, and Ian Scott’s lighting pinpoints the current focus of the story. An exterior view evens lets us see that classic “Fawlty Towers” sign and the hilltop location. With views across Torquay, and sadly not of the “Sydney Opera House, Hanging Gardens of Babylon or herds of wildebeest majestically sweeping across the plain”

Danny Bayne is excellent as belligerent hotel owner Basil Fawlty, bearing an uncanny resemblance to a young Cleese himself. His comedic timing and physicality deserves a special mention, committing to every pratfall and furious outburst with gusto and flailing limbs. It’s a phenomenal performance.

Mia Austen’s Sybil tries to gain control of the trail of chaos, delivering every cutting remark and eye-roll to perfection. Austen has also nailed that trademark braying laugh with precision. Hemi Yerohan’s Manuel is a perfect picture of constant confusion, a clear audience favourite as the hapless waiter. Polly doesn’t have an awful lot to do, but Joanne Clifton is always a joy to watch. Stage and screen legend Paul Nicholas puts in a small but scene-stealing performance as the absent-minded Major.

The entire cast successfully conveys the quirks and mannerisms of the original actors, and the dynamics between the characters have been strongly maintained. The first act feels a little laboured, but it picks up the pace in a frenetic 35 minute second act. Naturally it concludes with a chaotic tableau featuring every member of the sixteen-strong cast and the storylines overlapping into an expertly executed finale.

Not every joke has aged well, and certain storylines have been lightly tweaked for a modern audience. But the characterisations still work, which is testament to Cleese and Booth’s writing and Ranger’s direction. It’s a welcome break from the heaviness of the world at the moment, which is the true beauty of theatre. All in all, Fawlty Towers The Play is a delightful dose of nostalgia, capturing the magic of the much-loved series.

You can check in at Fawlty Towers at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham until Saturday 21st March 2026 – purchase your tickets here! The tour continues across the UK in 2026, you can find all tour dates here.

Production images by Hugo Glendinning

*Why is this post marked AD? I was invited to attend Press Night in exchange for an honest review. You can trust that I will always be honest and truthful on A Brummie Home and Abroad, and being an invited guest will not influence my opinion in any way.