It was 1975 when the gangly, brash and sarcastic hotelier, Basil Fawlty, first burst onto our TV screens - a character who has since become an icon in British comedy and pop culture.
Nearly 50 years later, the Fawlty Towers story is still bringing non-stop laughter to people across the nation - and the globe - not just through the beloved series but in the form of an immersive, interactive theatrical production.
Since 1997, Faulty Towers The Dining Experience has invited guests worldwide to be part of the action in a unique two-hour experience, featuring three courses and a side of hilarity, courtesy of the hapless Basil, social butterfly Sybil, and endearing waiter Manuel.
And now, the critically acclaimed show - which has a permanent West End residency - is coming to Manchester’s Hotel Brooklyn for a special run from February 14 to March 3, 2024.
Embodying the role of Basil in Manchester next month, is 44-year-old Dave Tremaine, from Hackney, east London. But was it a challenge, initially, for Dave to take up the mantle of such an iconic character?
“I’ve been doing it for the past six or seven years now,” said Dave. “When I started, however, I was pretty scared because I think Basil is the opposite of how I am in real life.
“I’m very much an introvert in real life, but when I do the show, I find myself shouting at random strangers, which I would never do. I often catch myself in the middle of the show and think, ‘What are you doing?!’ - it’s a really strange, out-of-body experience.”
But after being in the role for a while, Dave finds his Basil now comes more naturally. He continued: “I'm used to it now. There's certain things that happen and you know how the character would react to a particular situation, certainly for Basil.
“The key is that he wants to be a good hotelier, but people get in his way - particularly Manuel and Sybil - and stop him from having an easy life. So by the end of the show, he's completely exasperated.”
And though Basil continues to have a trying time, Dave shared how much he personally loves the role and the production as a whole, especially the physical, slapstick comedy that comes with it.
He said: “It's very fun. Everyone who comes along knows what to expect and they want you to kind of insult them in some way, so when we do, they just laugh - it's great.
“It's such a physical show as well, certainly for me and others playing Manuel; we're a bit of a sweaty mess by the end of it. And I've always liked physical comedy and silliness, so it ticks those boxes for me.”
Whilst Faulty Towers The Dining Experience has a structure and a script, 70% is improvised meaning no two nights at the interactive show are ever the same - keeping the show fresh and exciting.
“We have a core script we stick to, which forms the shape of the two-hour show, and then there's the parts between those set pieces where we serve the dinner,” he explained.
“They're the bits where we get to interact more with the audience. If they want to call us over, they can and we talk to them, but we never break character.
“We never really know what people are going to say to us. Sometimes they say nothing at all, and sometimes they just want to quote all the lines. That’s when we’re really tested because we have to remember the correct responses!”
Dave wouldn’t swap it for anything though, finding great joy in the audience’s reaction as the show plays out.
“I love the reaction you get from the audience with this kind of show because they can join in, and they sometimes take sides with certain characters. It's the best feeling when it goes well and I get a real buzz from it.”
Not to mention, for Dave, there’s an extra layer of investment with the show. Rather uniquely, his long-term partner Becky Norris plays chatty wife Sybil - and will join him ‘on stage’ in Manchester in February.
The two first met at drama school and entered Interactive Theatre International - the company behind Faulty Towers The Dining Experience - together as writers of another immersive comedy production, before inhabiting the recognisable roles of Basil and Sybil.
“We have a really nice relationship where we get to work together on the show. We try not to take the characters home with us - can't always be helped though!” Dave laughed.
“We’ve been lucky to be able to do this job together, at the same time. It’s nice to have those shared experiences, particularly when we go abroad - we've just done Denmark and we've been to Australia together three times. We've had a lovely time travelling all around the world with the show, it's just fantastic.”
Finally, when it comes to the show's menu - as audiences are treated to a wonderful three-course meal along with the cast's antics - is the famed Waldorf salad on there?
Dave replied with a chuckle: “No, no, we're always fresh out of Waldorf. People ask all the time, but we never have it.”
That’s perfectly fine though, as there’s plenty of other things to look forward to at the side-splitting show. You won't want to miss it.
Faulty Towers The Dining Experience will be at the Hotel Brooklyn in Manchester from February 14 to March 3, 2024. To find out more and book your tickets, visit the website.
