A Fawlty Towers Stage Show Is Coming To The West End In 2024
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10 months ago
Plus everything else to book now
It’s official: a Fawlty Towers stage show is coming to the West End in 2024, written by John Cleese himself using the material from three episodes of the original BBC series: The Hotel Inspectors, The Germans and Communication Problems. Having first debuted in Australia, the show will arrive in London’s Apollo Theatre on 4 May 2024. ‘We’ve been involved in the casting process for some time, being constantly reminded of what a wealth of acting talent we have in Britain – sorting the very, very, very good from the merely very, very good,’ Cleese told the BBC. ‘Finally, we assembled a top-class group of comedy actors.’ We can’t wait.
When in London, it’s remiss to forget about the theatre – whether you’re here for the day, a week, or you’ve lived here your whole life. Wondering what else to watch? Here are the best London theatre shows and plays to book now and get excited for in the near future.
London Theatre: The Best Plays To Book Now
Fawlty Towers
Having debuted in Australia, John Cleese’s stage adaptation of his beloved sitcom Fawlty Towers is coming to London’s West End in spring 2024. Set in a fictional hotel by the sea in Torquay, the show will see the return of our favourite an irritable hotel owner, Basil Fawlty, who iss frequently rude to demanding guests. The stage show will merge the storylines of three of Cleese’s favourite episodes to create one narrative arc.
Details: Fawlty Towers will kick off on 4 May 2024 at the Apollo Theatre (Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 7EZ). fawltytowerswestend.com
Plaza Suite
Following a sell-out run on Broadway, Plaza Suite is coming to London in early 2024 – with Sarah Jessica Parker (making her West End debut) and Matthew Broderick in tow. The play itself is split into three parts, with the real-life husband-and-wife duo playing three characters each, telling the story of various couples visiting the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
Details: Tuesday–Sunday evenings, with matinee shows on Thursdays and Saturdays at The Savoy Theatre (Savoy Ct, Strand, London WC2R 0ET). Running until 13 April 2024. thesavoytheatre.com
Plaza Suite by Neil Simon (c) Joan Marcus
Hamnet
From the Royal Shakespeare Company comes Hamnet, a play based on Maggie O’Farrell’s best-selling novel of the same name that tells the love story of Agnes Hathaway and William Shakespeare – as well as the family life they had together that was riddled with tragedy. Watch it before the film version comes out in 2025.
Details: Monday–Saturday, with matinee shows on Thursdays and Saturdays at the Garrick Theatre (2 Charing Cross Rd, London, WC2H 0HH) until 17 February 2024. rsc.org.uk
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Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Following in the popularity of Netflix original series Stranger Things comes a prequel play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Taking place in Hawkins in 1959, the story follows a rather regular town and it’s rather regular inhabitants – Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate – but the very irregular arrival of new student Henry Creel starts to turn things on its head.
Details: Tuesday–Sunday evenings, with matinee shows on Fridays and Saturdays at the Phoenix Theatre (Charing Cross Rd, London, WC2H 0JP). strangerthingsonstage.com
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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
The most awarded play in history, this one needs no introduction. For those yet to see Jack Thorne and JK Rowling’s epic two-part Harry Potter stage series, expect dazzling effects, shock plot twists and a stellar cast makes for a spellbinding adventure in this unique theatrical experience, set 19 years after the 2007 novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Details: Wednesday and Friday–Sunday, with ability to book consecutive parts one and two on the same day at the Palace Theatre (113 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 5AY). harrypottertheplay.com
The Mousetrap
London’s longest-running play is well worth watching, even over 70 years into its run. The Mousetrap is an infamous murder mystery production (written legendary novelist Agatha Christie), set in a newly opened countryside hotel where a snowstorm keeps a group of people trapped together. The only problem? There appears to be a murderer amongst them.
Details: Monday–Sunday evenings, with matinee shows on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at St Martin’s Theatre (West Street, London WC2H 9NZ). Currently booking until September 2024. the-mousetrap.co.uk
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Witness For The Prosecution
Another Agatha Christie whodunnit (can you tell there’s a theme here when it comes to British plays?), Witness For The Prosecution takes a more immersive approach by taking over London’s Country Hall – using the old Council Chambers as a makeshift courtroom for the case. Here, the audience are placed in the thick of the action (quite literally, you have the final say on whether the accused, Leonard Vole, is innocent or guilt). See you in court.
Details: Tuesday–Sunday, with matinee shows on Thursdays and Saturdays at London County Hall (County Hall, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 7GP). witnesscountyhall.com
© Johan Persson
An Enemy of the People
British actor Matt Smith makes his West End return with An Enemy of the People, the first English rendition of Henrik Ibsen’s famous play. It tells the story of a scientist who discovers that healing waters of his hometown’s baths have been contaminated – and then struggles to convince those he loves that he’s telling the truth.
Details: Monday–Saturday evenings, with matinee shows on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Duke of York’s Theatre (St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4BG). Running 6 February–6 April 2024. anenemyofthepeople.co.uk
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Spirited Away
Fans of Studio Ghibli will be ecstatic to know that its Oscar-winning animated film Spirited Away will be making its European theatrical debut in London next year. The show, which has been adapted by Les Misérables director John Caird, will see the original Japanese cast perform the production (with English subtitles provided) alongside a live orchestra playing Joe Hisaishi’s original film score. For those unfamiliar with the film, the story centres on Chihiro, a young girl who stumbles into the spirit world while moving to a new home with her parents.
Details: Coming to London in April 2024. Tuesday–Sunday evenings, with matinee shows on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at the London Coliseum (St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4ES). Currently booking until July 2024. spiritedawayuk.com
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Featured image: Plaza Suite by Neil Simon (c) Joan Marcus
