Faulty Towers The Dining Experience – The Ambassadors Hotel – 5K

Anthony Sottile (Manuel), Benedict Holme (Basil), and Karen Hamilton (Sybil).

By Olivia Henry

Inspired by the beloved BBC Series, Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is the perfect night out for all ages.This internationally loved performance is back on home turf for a fully interactive theatre show. The evening provides two hours of entertainment accompanied by a very enjoyable, 70’s style three-course meal.

Karen Hamilton (Sybil Fawlty), Anthony Sottile (Manuel), and Benedict Holme (Basil Fawlty) have really perfected their characters. It is easy to forget you are not watching the original cast bounce around the restaurant. The night begins in a bar adjacent to the dining room – Patrons are told upon arrival that Mr Fawlty will join them shortly to show them to their tables. After a short time, Manuel hobbles into the room to mingle with the guests. From this moment onwards, the audience is thrown into the world that is Fawlty Towers. Basil storms in to abuse Manuel. Sybil scolds Basil for losing the guest list. It’s immersive. It’s funny. It’s exciting. And the audience isn’t even seated at their tables yet.

The show is highly improvised; only one-third is actually scripted. This combination provides the perfect medium to see memorable moments from the old series revisited in a fresh way. These instances are a hit for fans, as they provide a tenuous link to the series without being too predictable or repetitive. At the same time, this means that the show is enjoyable for anyone, including those who may be too young to have seen the classic series.

Like being pulled into a television, it is an almost magical experience to be thrown into such a beloved show. For fans of the old series, this is a must-see. For those who have never seen the show, go and see it anyway. To be served by a bumbling Manuel, to have Basil grumble at you, to get a ‘selfie’ with Sybil. Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is worth every penny.

Kryztoff Rating: 5K

 
For tickets and show times, click here.

For more information about Interactive Theatre International, click here.