Review: John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers The Play at Mayflower Theatre

Bringing nostalgia, and the inevitable farce-driven chaos that always follows the legendary Basil as he deals with the seemingly endless trials and tribulations of his life as a Hotel owner in Torquay. 

Although it will be a trip down memory lane for many, others will be new to this classic British humour, which might seem to some to be slightly dated in 2026.  

John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers The Play (Image: Echo)

The production incorporates three iconic television episodes “The Hotel Inspector,” “Communication Problems” and “The Germans” into a single, cleverly adapted, two-hour stage show. This amounts to a quarter of all the episodes made throughout its run in the late 1970’s. But despite the limited number of shows, Fawlty Towers remains one of the most beloved British sitcoms from that era. 

This coming together of the three episodes saw the cast to revisit unforgettable comedy capers, which they deliver with enthusiasm and due respect to the originals.

Danny Bayne’s hyper-driven and exasperated Basil, whose manic attempts to keep the hotel afloat, despite his below-the-surface panic, provide a perfect homage to John Cleese’s original. The supporting cast, from the domineering Sybil to Polly’s frustrated competence and Manuel’s endearing confusion, is played with precision, but still embraces the actor’s own take on the characters rather than being an attempt at simple imitation.  

Because of the reliance on tried-and-trusted storylines, those expecting something new might be a little disappointed. However, if you are hoping for a nostalgic revisit rather than a fresh theatrical story, you will be in for a treat. 

The physical comedy of the show is true to the original, and I was pleased to see that much of the original dialogue was retained rather than bowing to the editing that comedy often seems forced to adopt due to the apparent sensitivity of today’s audiences. The Germans section is mocking Basil, no one else, funny is still funny and we could all do with a dose of being able to laugh at ourselves sometimes. 

If you’re looking for some old-school comedy, with plenty of belly laughs, slapstick humour and genuinely lovable characters, then this is certainly one for you. 

Whether you’re revisiting Basil Fawlty’s iconic hotel, or checking in for the first time, this stage version delivers an affectionate, fast-paced and chaotic tribute to one of Britain’s best-loved comedies.

By Peter Nicholson