AS THE first images of the world premiere cast of “Fawlty Towers – Live on Stage” were released this week, Canberra theatregoers were once again expressing disappointment that the show will be seen in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, but not Canberra.

But there is one consolation, Canberra-raised actor and director Ed Wightman will assist West End choreographer and director Caroline J. Ranger in staging the show.

“Fawlty Towers – Live On Stage” will have its world premiere at Sydney’s Ros Packer Theatre in Walsh Bay, not one of the city’s large lyric theatres) with a cast handpicked by John Cleese, who drew  the script from   the original 1970s  TV scripts written by himself  and Connie Booth, who played Polly in the series.

The original television series, was first broadcast on BBC Two in the UK in 1975 and is based on a real-life hotel owner. Cleese came up with the idea for the character of Basil Fawlty when the “Monty Python” team stayed at the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay. The owner of the hotel, Donald Sinclair, fascinated Cleese with his incredibly rude behaviour.

Based on three episodes melded together, with new dialogue written by Cleese, the new play is believed to include the “don’t mention the war” and the fire drill episodes.

Cleese has told media that he chose Australia to premiere the show because of the quality of Australian actors, the popularity of the TV show here, and because he believed the press disliked him in Britain.

The full company of Fawlty Towers – Live on Stage is  (in alphabetical order): Ana Maria Belo (Miss Tibbs/Ensemble), Paul Bertram (The Major), Blazey Best (Sybil), Syd Brisbane (Manuel), Paul Denny (Mr Hutchison/ Ensemble), Stephen Hall (Basil), Aimee Horne (Polly), Andrew Johnston (Mr Walt, German Guest, Ensemble), Sarah Jane Kelly (Onstage Swing), Deborah Kennedy (Mrs Richards), Anna Lee (Miss Gatsby, Nurse, Ensemble), John Shearman (Taxi Driver, Inspector, Ensemble), Emily Thomas (German Guest, Ensemble), John Voce (Mr. Thurston, Dr Finn, German Guest, Ensemble), David John Watton (Mr Firkins, Mr Kerr, Mr Sharp, Ensemble).

“FAWLTY TOWERS live – on Stage”, world premiere season Sydney on sale now August 19 – September 18. At Sydney’s Roslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay, bookings to roslynpackertheatre.com.au or 02 9250 1999 or ticketmaster.com.au 136 100.