Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers The Play
New London cast announced for the Apollo Theatre
Casting has been announced for the return of John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers The Play to the West End’s Apollo Theatre in London.
The comedy is back at the Apollo Theatre for a three-month season from 24 June to 13 September 2025.
Fawlty Towers will star Danny Bayne (Only Fools and Horses The Musical) as Basil Fawlty, Mia Austen (Ludwig) as Sybil, Hemi Yeroham (La Cage Aux Folles) reprising his role as Manuel, Joanne Clifton (Shrek The Musical) as Polly, Paul Nicholas (Just Good Friends) reprising his role as The Major, and Helen Lederer (Absolutely Fabulous) as Mrs Richards.
Other cast include Greg Haiste as Mr Hutchinson / Wilhelm, Emily Winter as Miss Tibbs, Dawn Buckland as Miss Gatsby, John Hasler as Mr Thurston / Günter, Adam Elliott as Mr Walt, Neil Stewart as Taxi Driver/ Mr Firkins / Mr Kerr / Mr Sharp, Josie Brightwell as Johanna and Liz, Ashleigh Harvey as Debbie, Ben Jacobson as Ken, Matthew Gordon as Mr Dale, and Raymond Rose as Philip.
Adapted by comedy legend John Cleese and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger (Only Fools and Horses The Musical), the stage show is based on the much-loved BBC sitcom written by and starring John Cleese and Connie Booth, and first opened in the West End in May 2024.
Set in a fictional hotel in the seaside town of Torquay, following a tip off that hotel inspectors may be visiting and eager to impress, Basil attempts to ingratiate himself with guests that he suspects are there to critique the establishment. The situation is further plagued by a party of Germans, the deaf and dotty guest-from-hell, Mrs Richards, whose infuriating complaints prevent him from hiding a gambling win from his ever vigilant and bossy wife, Sybil. Together they run their hotel with a little help from the unflappable Polly, and very little help at all from Manuel, the trainee waiter from Barcelona who is the butt of Fawlty’s frustration.
Joining Caroline Jay Ranger in the creative team are Set and Costume Designer Liz Ascroft, Lighting Designer Ian Scott, Casting Director Anne Vosser and Assistant Director Denise Ranger.
John Cleese said in a statement: “I’m thrilled with the top-class group of comedy actors that we’ve assembled for Fawlty Towers’ return to the West End stage this June. September this year marks exactly 50 years since the first ever episode was broadcast on the BBC and here we are, all these years later, still making theatres rock with laughter.”
Fawlty Towers The Play is running at the Apollo Theatre from 24 June to 13 September 2025.
