The madcap world of television classic comedy Fawlty Towers comes to Birmingham this autumn with a theatrical dinner event with a difference.

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience at the city’s Council House Banqueting Suite sees guests enjoying a three-course meal while in the company of the show’s much-loved characters – bad-tempered hotel owner Basil, his wife Sybil and hapless waiter Manuel.

And the production, which follows two sell-out residencies in Birmingham in 2023, promises to be a hilarious evening like no other.

Actress Nerine Skinner, who plays Sybil, says the show is hugely popular with Fawlty Towers fans but also attracts people who don’t know the 1970s television series and simply want to be entertained.

“There’s lots of improvisation in the show so although there’s a story and there’s a script and that’s nostalgic and people enjoy that if they know Fawlty Towers, there’s also this element that no show will be the same.

“But you don’t necessarily have to be a Fawlty Towers fan to come and watch this. If you’ve not seen the TV programmes, you will still have a great time as it’s a way of socialising if you’ve come with friends or meeting new people.”

And, she says, every performance differs.

“The fun thing is that the show is personal to each audience because we always have to adapt to what they’re bringing us. You never know what you’re going to get or what someone is going to say.

“Especially for little ones, it’s crazy how much young children come to watch this and they probably have no idea what’s happening, but they love Manuel because he’s such a clown character.”

For Nerine, it is the strength of the characteristics of Basil, Sybil and Manuel which shine through.

“The characters are so well defined. Each one is so specific and there are qualities that are relatable in each. Although the time has moved on and we don’t maybe handle things in the same way as Basil does, it is still massively popular today because those characters are so well thought out.

“Then there is the added element that they are really extreme. In so much comedy you don’t have those extreme, stereotypical characters any more, and that’s really fun for people to hang onto.”

Premiered in Brisbane in 1997, Faulty Towers The Dining Experience has since toured to more than 1,000 venues in more than 40 countries. Each season, more than 50 different actors play the three roles across multiple shows.

The production, which has its own scripts inspired by the television series, has become a hugely popular tribute to the original Fawlty Towers.

Rob Langston has been with Faulty Towers The Dining Experience for 12 years playing the role of Basil and says the audience is also a part of the show.

“One of the great things is that so many people know and really love the TV show and they come in with just so much joy. They know the scenarios and the situations and they know the characters or at least have a good kind of idea about them. It’s wonderful.

“In any improv you have to be open to play with people if it’s interactive and go along with what they are trying to share with you but also staying quite true to the characters.

“But with so much experience and watching the TV shows in and out I think we’re quite at one with those characters now and it’s nice to marry those two things up and have that kind of experience.”

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience may be immersive but Rob and Nerine say audience members can be as involved as they choose to be.

“People are often quite terrified about the whole thing because they think they are going to be picked on or made a fool of or something like that but that’s not the case,” says Rob.

“We always work with people and as performers we read who wants to play and who wants to kind of not play so much. There are people who want to be involved and throw themselves in but there are others who simply want to watch it. And for them I would say that’s fine, just sit back, relax and enjoy it.”

The improv means even the cast don’t have an idea of every element of the performance until they are in the space with the audience.

“We have quite good experience of dealing with most things people can throw at you,” Rob says. “And also there is a huge amount of good will, with the audience there to enjoy the show.

“There is something very special about immersive theatre, it is a really quite exciting experience to feel you are part of this world rather than passively watching it. You are involved in it - but you don’t have to be the centre of it!”

For Nerine, the fun of playing Sybil is that interaction with the audience.

“Sybil is very much a people person and wants to gossip about what is going on or someone’s hair or someone’s nails. And her laugh is iconic, just that alone is something I love doing.

“She’s the hostess with the mostess and very much about making sure that everyone is having a nice time. That contrasts really well with Basil, they are just completely polar opposites.”

Rob says audiences can’t help but love Basil and his outbursts.

“I think Basil is quite complex. He has his elements of frustration and anxiety which I think we all have. He’s someone who’s trying to very much portray the best version of himself in many ways but he’s always stopped from being able to do that - mostly by the people he depends upon to make a living, the customers of his hotel. So it’s the frustration of not being able to control that.

“He’s very flawed and a massive snob really. If I’m honest he says and acts in ways that we have constraints that we won’t do that but the joy in playing it is that you can kind of get away with those things. He’s a horrible person but people love him for that.

“As an actor that’s a wonderful thing to be able to do and to play with and have the safety that people expect it. I’m inwardly Basil Fawlty.”

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience comes to Birmingham Council House Banqueting Suite on 23 October – 3 November. Book here.

By Diane Parkes