Preview: Fawlty Towers to Bring Laughter to Empire Theatre Stage
Written by Adam Robson on 26th January 2026
Fawlty Towers is bringing laughter to the Sunderland Empire stage as part of its 2026 UK and Ireland tour, following its critically acclaimed West End run.
Adapted from the award-winning British television comedy created by John Cleese and Connie Booth, Fawlty Towers: The Play has been adapted for the stage by Cleese himself and is directed by Caroline Jay Ranger.
Set in the fictional Fawlty Towers hotel, the story follows the misadventures of owner Basil Fawlty and his disastrously hilarious attempts to run the establishment. The production combines three of Cleese’s favourite episodes, The Hotel Inspectors, The Germans, and Communication Problems, reworked into a fast-paced two-hour stage play.
The cast includes Danny Bayne as the iconic Basil Fawlty, Mia Austen as his sharp-tongued but far more capable wife Sybil, and former Strictly Come Dancing champion Joanne Clifton as the sensible maid Polly. The production also features many other beloved characters from the original series.
John Cleese said: “I’m thrilled with the top-class group of comedy actors that we’ve assembled for the UK tour of Fawlty Towers The Play, which begins in September. September also marks exactly 50 years since the first ever TV episode was broadcast on the BBC. I never thought that all these years later the stage show would get the reception it has but here we are, still making theatres rock with laughter.”
Fawlty Towers will be at the Sunderland Empire from 3–7 February 2026. Tickets are available from AGT Tickets.
