Jaya | Interactive Theatre International

Australian Tour

May 1, 2014 by Jaya

Three festivals, three months in three states -what an adventure the Faulty team had around Australia! Karen Hamilton (Sybil), Benedict Holme (Basil) and Anthony Sottile (Manuel) started the tour in sunny Perth for the Fringe World festival.

They didn’t hang around too long as it was 32 degrees Celsius (a moderately warm day for Perth) and Mrs Faulty kept complaining her face was melting off. They stayed in Perth at Rigby’s Bar and Bistro for just over 3 weeks- plenty of time for Sybil to make some new friends and Basil some enemies…

Next stop was the Adelaide Fringe Festival. The team were expecting sweltering heat but rather they had to go out and buy jumpers (yes, even the Brits!). The team had a wonderful time at the new venue spending just over a month at The Ambassadors Hotel. As per tradition, Karen left behind a signed gnome for the venue to cherish.

After a short break the team arrived in Melbourne for the International Comedy Festival. A city known for its culture and nightlife, here’s Mrs Faulty finding Basil and Manuel in the belly dancers dressing room – “Manuel put that down!”

With Easter fast approaching Mrs Faulty took Basil and Manuel shopping in the city. Basil was less than amused taking the tram…

The team proudly celebrated its 6th year at The Aegean Restaurant and the end of the tour with an Easter feast! Food and wine was enjoyed by all, but perhaps a little too much chocolate for Manuel!

After nearly 3 months interstate the whole team were happy to head back home! Here are some of my highlights from the tour: Mrs Faulty sporting golfing trousers, Manuel flirting with a married woman and Mr Faulty truly losing it! Until next year Fringe World, Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival- thanks for having us!

Jaya – Festivals Manager

The Birth of a new Basil and Sybil

August 25, 2013 by Jaya

We recently welcomed Lara Dignam and Paul Geoghegan into the Aussie Faulty family. Having auditioned early in 2013, they rehearsed in March with our team at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Joined by long-standing company member Daley Donnelly (Manuel) and with artistic director Alison Pollard-Mansergh there too, they had their first performance in June at the Warwick Show & Rodeo Society Dinner in southern Queensland. This is what they said afterwards…

FT: How were you feeling before your rehearsal on Friday? [the day before the Warwick show]

Paul: I think my main concerns were hoping to impress Ali and to do a good job in general. I was also hoping to have a good rapport with Daley.

Lara: Somewhat anxious!

FT: And after your rehearsal?

Paul: I was a bit brain dead. Learning and polishing in four hours what we covered in a week in Melbourne. When I got home I couldn’t think of a single thing I had done all day.

Lara: Amazing what putting on the wig and frilly shirt does for your character development!

FT: What was going through your mind on the drive to Warwick?

Paul: I spent the two hour drive enjoying the scenery. And listening to select episodes of Fawlty Towers to get me in the spirit of things. When we got to Warwick, I found a coffee shop and had some quiet time having a good coffee and reading over the script one last time.

Lara: I can’t believe the motel manager in Brisbane snubbed me because I’m in theatre and not on TV! I AM super important!!

FT: First impressions when you got to the Warwick Rodeo?

Lara: We were welcomed by seven year old twins wearing pink cowboy hats named Raven and Justice. It was a beautiful, peaceful area with friendly and eager people.

Paul: The first ten minutes of the show felt awkward but once we got everyone seated I was on. Daley and I found some good comedy with the way Manuel had set the table. And then the night went by with nearly no hitches.

FT: Were there any funny and/or frightening moments during your debut?

Paul: I don’t care to admit one minor thing that happened!

Lara: The moustache falling off (shouldn’t have bought the cheap glue Basil!).

FT: The post-mortem?!

Paul: Afterwards I felt good. Nothing was missed. No one got hurt. And everyone had a good time. For a debut performance, it was a good-sized audience to perform for. And performing with Lara and Daley was a delight. I can’t wait to perform with them again.

Lara: Glad the first one is over and looking forward to the next one.

Paul and Lara are now touring Australia.

For more information about our cast members, go to the Actors page on our website.
For show dates around the world, go to the Tickets page on our website.

Introducing… Karen Hamilton

August 22, 2013 by Jaya

Karen Hamilton has been a Sybil in Faulty Towers The Dining Experience almost as long as the show’s existed! Here are some of her best moments and touring stories. If you think this is bad, you should see the videos…

Q1: What’s your favourite part of working with Faulty Towers The Dining Experience so far or favourite Faulty moment?
A: My favourite part of working with ITI is the fabulously talented actors I get to work with. Favourite moment…hmmmm, the improvisation…one story…In Ireland at Mullingar, a gentleman keep standing through the first set piece. I only had to look at him, leave some silence and say “Hemorrhoids?”…and then wait 3 mins for laughter to die down.

Q2: Describe yourself in 3 words?
A: Outrageous, quick, shameless

Q3: What’s your best (or worst) corpsing story?
A: In Australia, Brisbane, Sybil entered to find Basil’s hand in Manuel’s jacket. “Basil what are you doing?” Basil “Ummm, I’m just checking Manuel’s angina.” Manuel: “But I’m a boy”. We all stood still and the audience laughed and tears of laughter ran down our faces but our faces stayed the same for about 5 mins. Sybil: “…right”

Q4: What similarities and differences are there between you and the character you play?
A: I have Sybil’s forthrightness & drink abilities myself but little else. As my son said in Edinburgh at the age of 10…”Mummy I’m so glad your not like her.”

Q5: If you were an animal, what animal would you be and why?
A: A duck, or Chinese chicken. Happy to just pluck around all day.:)

Q6: Who’s your favourite other cast member to share a dressing room with and why?
A: Of the current cast…Andy Foreman. We always end up laughing. And we tend to be on the same twisted wavelength.

Q7: If your character had a dating profile, what do you think it would say?
A: Charming lovely English lady seeks wealthy Mediterranean gentleman. Will beat current husband to death in order to be available.

Q8: What was your last tweet or Facebook status?
A: Today I’m not aiming for fabulous just unique.

Q10: What don’t you leave home without?
A: Well the kids think I should wear a bra.

Q11: Do you have any hidden talents?
A: OH YES!

Introducing… Andy Foreman

July 9, 2013 by Jaya

Not many contemporary performers can claim to have worked with Bing Crosby and Morecambe and Wise, but this is how Andy Foreman started his career. Since then, he has featured in film, TV and theatre in the UK, Canada and Australia, and he continues to work as a Clown Doctor and scriptwriter. Andy began working with Faulty Towers The Dining Experience in 1997 and has been winning five-star reviews as Manuel ever since.

We asked Andy a little bit about himself and his character:

Q1: What’s your favourite part of working with Faulty Towers The Dining Experience so far or favourite Faulty moment?

A: I love seeing people cry with laughter.

Q2: Describe yourself in 3 words?

A: Quiet.

Q3: What’s your best (or worst) corpsing story?

A: There were so many in the earlier years as we discovered what these characters could do in this setting, and how the audience would play along.

Ridiculous conversations with guests make me laugh. But I can’t repeat one, that’s why you have to be there.

Q4: What similarities and differences are there between you and the character you play?

A: We’re both emasculated but only I know what that means.

Q5: If you were an animal, what animal would you be and why?

A: Fox. I look like the underdog but I’m getting lots of chicken. (Chicken’s a metaphor for good things, not women)

Q6: Who’s your favourite other cast member to share a dressing room with and why?

A: After two months on tour together, whoever the next one is!

Q7: If your character had a dating profile, what do you think it would say?

A: If Manuel had to do it in English:

Emasculated Spanish waiter with nice ass would like to meat women.

Q8: What was your last tweet or Facebook status?

A: I just saw The Book Of Mormon and it was brilliant.

Q10: What don’t you leave home without?

A: My Tom Bihn ID bag, and a reason

Q11: Do you have any hidden talents?

A: No, they’re all on show. Except riding a unicycle.

Andy is currently performing at Charing Cross in London until the end of August. Check out our available dates if you’d like to see him!

Sketching Basil

July 8, 2013 by Jaya

We stumbled upon this brilliant drawing by tumblr artist ‘Ba’, and think it looks very much like one of our own Basils: Jack Baldwin! What do you think? Do you have any Faulty sketches we’d like to see?

You can see more of Ba’s quirky illustrations here: http://badziek.tumblr.com/

Gift Vouchers!

July 2, 2013 by Jaya

We are proud to annouce that we now have gift vouchers available for selected performances in the UK and Australia!

You can buy them online through our website for the value of £50/$50 or £100/$100 and they can be redeemed when booking online. Perfect for friends and family who are thinking of booking in the future, or as a birthday gift!

…Enjoy!

Upcoming UK Shows: August

July 1, 2013 by Jaya

It’s all about the North this August for The Dining Experience! I wonder what Basil would have to say about that…

Hover over the image to get more info on the dates, venues and links to tickets.

Sunny Southport: June Tours Photos

June 26, 2013 by Jaya

Here are some photos from another of our UK June tours locations: Sunny Southport, where we played three Sold Out shows at The Atkinson.

Pulling faces for the camera are: Jack Baldwin, Ed Howells and Donna Gray (who kindly shared her photos with us).

If you joined us in Southport this June send us in your photos, we’d love to see them!
Email: emma@faultytowers-uk.com
tweet: @thefaultytowers

Upcoming UK Shows: July

June 25, 2013 by Jaya

Wondering where we will be in the UK this July? Our interactive map will show you if The Faultys are coming to an area near you! Just hover your mouse over the map and click on the dots for more info and links to book tickets.

(If you can’t see the dots then click on the post title before hovering over the map)

A Bouffantastic Day Out

June 24, 2013 by Jaya

If you are a fan of us on Facebook you may have already seen our Out and About in London Town photos, where the Faulty’s have been meeting all kinds of lovely Londoners around Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square.

Sybils favourite part of one of the outings last week was going to the hairdressers – naturally she had to call Audrey straight after and tell her all about it! Here are some snaps of the day.

Did you bump into the Faultys on one of their excursions? Tell us all about it on our Facebook and Twitter!

Beautiful Belper: June tours photos

June 20, 2013 by Jaya

Last Friday (14th June), one of our UK touring teams visited The Lion Pub With Rooms in Belper and enjoyed a fantastic performance with Donna Gray performing as Sybil, Jack Baldwin as Basil and Ed Howells as Manuel. The cast also got to explore the town and took some lovely snaps in the sun for us!

Welcome to Belper, Faultys!

Jack and Ed contemplating the view!

Stunning countryside

Donna looking very glamorous in her shades.

Squinting in the sunlight.

Photos courtesy of Donna Gray

Were you at the show in beautiful Belper? We’d love to see your photos and comments on our Facebook and Twitter!

Hopefully the sun keeps shining for the Faultys this summer! …Stay tuned for more UK touring photos.

Sydney Opera House Debut!

June 18, 2013 by Jaya

If you follow us on Facebook and Twitter, you’ll have probably already heard that September sees our debut at the world’s most iconic arts centre, Sydney Opera House. The week’s run comes at the end of a three-month, five-state tour of Australia (details will be in our next monthly newsletter) itself part of a magical world tour that takes in 20 countries this year alone.

Share this exciting milestone with us and book your tickets via Sydney Opera House before they sell out:

Box Office: (+61) 2 9250 7777

email: bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com

website: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

Image used with permission from Sydney Opera House Trust

Making the Fish

June 15, 2013 by Jaya

Here are some snaps of Peter, the company Director, preparing the famous fish that we use in our performances.

It’s a lengthy process, with each fish going through at least 4 stages to reach the final product.

Half fish are cut and filled with foam to strengthen them. Whole fish are weighted to balance correctly on the display board. Lets not forget the eyes! These fish have their eyes shipped in to sunny Australia to be attached before the whole fish is varnished ready to be sent out to our venues around the world to begin their intimate relationships with our Basils’ behinds.

Ever been through customs with a bag full of plastic fish? Well, we have.

Share This:

Share This:

Share This:

Share This:

Share This:

Share This:

Share This:

Share This:

Share This:

Share This:

Share This:

Share This:

Share This: