Fawlty Towers breaks records at Devon Theatre

Westend hit packs out venue 

The stage version of Fawlty Towers has broken records in Torquay - and unlike the war, we're allowed to talk about it! 

The West End hit, adapted by John Cleese himself, came to the Princess Theatre last week as part of its UK tour.

It's made more money than any other show in the venue’s history and smashed the all-time attendance record for a play, which stood for 15 years.

The original TV comedy was inspired by a Devon seaside town more than 50 years ago, when John Cleese came across a very rude hotel manager.

Ross Bibby, General Manager of the Princess Theatre, said: "to welcome John Cleese back to Torquay after more than 50 years to open a show that he wrote in the town that inspired it. It was genuinely extraordinary. Our audiences rose to the occasion, with people travelling from far and wide, and the atmosphere throughout the week was electric.

The record this production has broken speaks for itself, but what I'll remember most is the sound of a full house laughing. Fawlty Towers belongs in Torquay, and this week Torquay showed how much it belongs, how much it belongs to Fawlty Towers". 

The comedy legend made a flying visit to the town and thanked everyone for coming on the opening night before the show officially launched in its hometown.

Before the curtain went up, Cleese met the current touring cast and took some photos with them as well as packed out auditorium.