IT is hard to believe that there were only 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers – and almost as hard to find that it is just over 50 years since the BBC showed this absolute classic of English rudeness and gentility at the seaside. Now it comes as a stage play, adapted by creator John Cleese, to Bath Theatre Royal, for a week to 11th July, on tour after two sold-out and critically acclaimed West End seasons.

With Danny Bayne as the hotelier from hell, Basil Fawlty, Mia Austen as his sarcastic and bossy wife Sybil, Paul Nicholas as the Major and Joanne Clifton as Polly, this is a chance to relive the madness of Fawlty Towers live on stage, with sharp wit, chaos and calamity at every turn.

Adapted by the former Monty Python co-creator and comedian John Cleese – who originally co-wrote the series with Connie Booth – the play is directed by originating West End director Caroline Jay Ranger.

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 (Jemma Churchill), whose infuriating complaints prevent him from hiding a gambling win from the ever-vigilant Sybil. Together they run their hotel with a little help from the unflappable Polly, and very little help from Manuel Hemi Yeroham), the trainee waiter from Barcelona who is the butt of Fawlty’s frustration.

The play also features other characters from the original series, including Mr Hutchinson and Wilhelm played by Greg Haiste, Miss Tibbs (Emily Winter), Miss Gatsby (Dawn Buckland), Mr Thurston and Günter (John Hasler), Mr Walt (Adam Elliott), taxi driver, Mr Firkins, Mr Kerr and Mr Sharp (Neil Stewart), and Johanna and Liz (Josie Brightwell), with Ashleigh Harvey, Ben Jacobso, Matthew Gordon and Raymond Rose.

Set in a fictional hotel in the seaside town of Torquay, Fawlty Towers is based on a real-life hotel owner, Donald Sinclair. John Cleese came up with the idea for the character Basil Fawlty when he stayed at Sinclair’s Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay and became fascinated with his incredibly rude behaviour. Fawlty Towers won many awards and plaudits including two BAFTAS for Best Situation Comedy and in 2000 it was voted the best British programme of all time in a British Film Institute poll.

Photographs by Hugo Glendinning