Following a widely popular Aotearoa run in 2024, the comedic culinary adventure like no other Faulty Towers The Dining Experience will make its return in October 2025. This year will see shows in Christchurch, Wellington, Whanganui, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Tauranga and Auckland.
The international smash-hit has been entertaining audiences across the globe for over 28 years. A loving tribute to Fawlty Towers, the BBC TV series written by John Cleese and Connie Booth, audiences are invited to step inside the television series and become part of the action itself.
Highly improvised, interactive and a fully immersive experience, audiences will enjoy an action filled and unforgettable night, with a delicious ‘70s-style three-course meal and 5-star comedy. Guests are not just audience members, but highly esteemed guests of Basil, Sybil, and Manuel.
The longest running Fawlty Towers show of any kind worldwide was devised by Kiwi Alison Pollard-Mansergh, who is also the artistic director and writer of this show. Growing up surrounded by the arts, Alison started her first theatre business at 15. She went on to launch Faulty Towers The Dining Experience in 1997 and played Sybil for many years, being involved in the production all the way up to 2019.
Producer and Programmer Jared Harford is thrilled to be back to New Zealand after last year's successful run of shows, and says a return was always on the cards. “We were completely blown away with the response last year and knew right away that we would be back. Touring such a world class show such as this around Aotearoa has been a dream, and I hope one that I never wake from.”
Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is a globe-trotting tour-de-force that has been smashing records, and collecting accolades since its humble beginnings in 1997. Touring globally in 43 countries, and welcoming well over 1 million guests through its doors, 2025 sees the show celebrate 28 years of touring worldwide, and its 13th year of the highly successful West End residency in London.
The show is now the longest running immersive production, the longest running Fawlty Towers production in the West End, and the longest running show based on a TV series in the West End. It is also the longest-running Fawlty Towers production of any kind running worldwide.
This smash hit has been labelled “theatre at its startling best” (Best of Theatre, London West End) as the iconic trio brings the famous British BBC series to life in a dining experience like no other.
The cast for 2025 mirrors that of 2024 - including kiwi Jed McKinney as Basil, Eilannin Harris-Black as Sybil and Michael Gonsalves as Manuel. And producer Jared Harford, Palmerston North Local, wants everyone to know that it’s the only town to have named a rubbish dump after John Cleese - Mt Cleese.
Tickets are on sale now at www.faultytowersnz.com for all shows except for Rotorua - which launches on July 1st. You can call 07 351 8957 to be placed on the waiting list. More locations are to be announced - if you’re interested in hosting a show in your region or want to know more, contact morgan@818.co.nz.
Fawlty Towers, the BBC TV series scripts are not used in Faulty Towers The Dining Experience; this show uses its own original scripts and format.
"If you're looking for an evening of hilarity with a side of delicious nostalgia, this dining experience is not to be missed."
BlackGuard Reviews – Auckland 2024
‘"Deliciously unforgettable.”
Regional News – Wellington 2024
"A raucously hilarious and wonderfully chaotic dining experience."
The Movie Army – Auckland 2024