Jared Harford from Interactive Theatre shares his favourite moments of the show and why it’s great fun to experience as a group.
How did the show start?
27 years ago, creator Alison Pollard-Mansergh wrote Faulty Towers The Dining Experience as a one-off for an event in Australia and it was really well received. It toured Australia before the Edinburgh Fringe in 2008 – it took off all over the world after that, opening in London’s West End in 2012. It was the first show that had gone from Edinburgh Fringe to opening on the West End permanently.
How did you get involved?
Before coming over to the UK I was performing in musicals in Australia as well as teaching. I got a job with Interactive Theatre, the company behind Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, in 2017 and went from customer service to having to run the whole Edinburgh Fringe season after somebody left!
What does your role as executive producer involve?
I oversee ticket sales, marketing, prices and tours. There has been lots of work ahead of the launch of our 13th year in the West End. I work on our other shows in Australia and we’re launching a new tour of Faulty Towers The Dining Experience in New Zealand this year too.
Why does Fawlty Towers have such a long-lasting appeal?
It was really well done by John Cleese and Connie Booth. It became iconic because there are only 12 episodes. We always say that Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is like the 13th episode, the audience can come along and help create that with us.
What’s the biggest challenge?
Ensuring that people know we exist. We’re in London all year and we’re the secret thing that people don’t always know about. Over the last two years, especially winning the Group Leisure & Travel Award for Best Group Dining Experience back-to-back has really showed that we’re a force in London.
Why is it so great to experience as a group?
It’s so much more fun. Half of the opening of the show is about everyone coming in and sitting down and meeting the other diners. Even in groups, not everybody will know each other, or very well, so there’s that exciting element. We can also put on exclusive private shows for groups.
What’s your favourite thing about the show?
I love how much everyone enjoys the jokes. There are some brilliant visual jokes and if I’m ever backstage you can hear the laughter go from one side of the room to the other.
“We always say that Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is like the 13th episode, the audience can come along and help create that with us.”
Has the show changed much over the years?
There’s a basic storyline but everything changes depending on what’s going on in the room, who you have in the audience and what they want to do.
If a group organiser hasn’t been before, what would you say to them about making the most of the experience?
Do not come expecting five-star service and make sure you’re prepared to have a laugh.
In London, Faulty Towers The Dining Experience runs year-round at the President Hotel. It is also touring venues across the UK including Manchester, Birmingham and York.
Groups can email customerservice@imagination-workshop.com for information and exclusive group rates, or call 0845 1544 145.
