Introducing… Benedict Holme

Benedict Holme has been playing Basil Faulty in Faulty Towers The Dining Experience since April 2013. He has already toured in the UK and Canada and performed at the show’s residency in the Charing Cross Hotel in London’s West End. He’s currently touring Australia for the first time, experiencing Fringe World Perth, Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

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

Well, it’s no exaggeration to say that few acting jobs could be more perfect for a lanky, moustachioed actor with a travel bug. Ali [Artistic Director and Executive Producer] cast me in April 2013, and since then I’ve relished working with some wonderful and talented people, and in some amazing locations. I recently returned from a tour of Canada (where nearly every show ended with a standing ovation), and I leave in a few days’ time for a three-month tour of Australia. It’s a tremendous challenge to play such an iconic figure of British comedy in an interactive theatre context, but there’s no “buzz” quite like a show when the audience are 100% on your side.

Q2: Describe yourself in three words?

Fine ale connoisseur.

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

A recent experience in Swindon springs to mind, when we were interrupted by a real life fire alarm and a real life (and extremely loud) plate smash, in both cases pre-empting the well-known routines from the show. We were half expecting a real life rat to scurry across the floor well in advance of his artificial counterpart making its scheduled appearance in Manuel’s box at the beginning of the second act. I can’t remember if any of this resulted in any actual corpsing, but we were close!

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

I’m sure some of my fellow cast members would tell you that very little transformation is required to turn Ben into Basil. Being tall, skinny, grumpy, and a bit posh, I’m pretty much there already. But whereas Basil gives full, irascible voice to all his angers and frustrations, Ben elects to simmer under the surface and brave life’s minor irritations with a big smile on his face 🙂

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

I’m thinking a blue whale. Being the largest organism that has ever lived, at least I’d know that nothing could eat me! Actually, didn’t David Attenborough show a baby one getting hounded by killer whales? I think I’d better be a killer whale instead, then. They can beat up great white sharks after all, and that might prove very useful when I’m in Australia!

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

I think they’re all terrific, whether I’m sharing a dressing room, car journey, train journey, flight, beer, or mad excursion into a dangerous, litter-strewn abandoned Derbyshire cave-system with them!

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

Ageing brilliantine stick insect seeks respite from rancorous coiffeured old sow.

Q8: What was your last tweet or Facebook status?

I’m not yet a Twitterer and don’t often update my Facebook status, but I’ll probably find time to make the obligatory “Farewell, friends!” speech before leaving for Aus.

Q9: What don’t you leave home without?

I was going to say a clean pair of socks, but we all know that’s a big lie, so it’s wallet and iPhone!

Q10: Do you have any hidden talents?

Burp-talking (not really).

No, as I bored other cast members with in Canada and on other tours, I’m a complete history buff, and can name virtually everyone who travelled on the Titanic. I’ve also been known to conduct personal Jack the Ripper tours for curious fellow cast members, who agree to suffer my heavily biased suspect theory providing there’s a Brick Lane curry at the end of it.

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New show at Fringe World Perth

We’re returning to Fringe World Perth… and this time Faulty Towers won’t be our only show!
Bite-Size Comedies A La Carte (in collaboration with Bite-Size Plays) makes its Fringe World Debut this year… come and see it at Rigby’s Bar & Bistro.

You can buy tickets to both shows here.

FWP A5 flyer front

 

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Tweet of the Week

Tweet of the week this week is from Fiona at Redland Bay Golf Club in Queensland, Australia – a couple of Instagrams too!

Manuel wants us to "stack you bowls" @thefaultytowers #faultytowerslive

Kicking off @thefaultytowers at Redland Bay Golf Club #faultytowerslive

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A week at The Sydney Opera House

Our debut week at Sydney Opera House was a sell-out and many of our guests wrote great reviews on twitter and facebook. Australian Traveller magazine has published a great review too, calling the show ‘a hilarious battle of wits, patience, fire extinguishers and fine food..  distinctly hilarious’. Click here for the full review.

We’re already planning our return so sign up for the newsletter and hear about it the minute we have the dates.

clockwise, from top left: Paul O'Neill (Basil), Peter Mansergh (Company & Financial Director), Claire Housden (Global Operations Manager), Andy Foreman (Manuel) and Karen Hamilton (Sybil).

clockwise, from top left:
Paul O’Neill (Basil), Peter Mansergh (Company & Financial Director), Claire Housden (Global Operations Manager), Andy Foreman (Manuel) and Karen Hamilton (Sybil).

Sybil, Basil and Manuel prepare to treat the Aussies to some fine dining.

Sybil, Basil and Manuel prepare to treat the Aussies to some fine dining.

Our performance space: The Utzon Room, with its thousand-dollar chairs, three-million dollar mural… and a Faulty fish.

Our performance space: The Utzon Room, with its thousand-dollar chairs, three-million dollar mural… and a Faulty fish.

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Faulty Towers on ABC Sydney – 702 Drive with Richard Glover

Click the image below to listen to the full interview with our Sydney Opera House debut team on 24th September 2013

drive, richard glover, faulty towers, 702 sydney, ABC

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Manuel in London, waiting for Sydney

Manuel heard that LEGO now has a beautiful, 3,000 brick rendition of Sydney Opera House, so he thought he’d try his hand at the same thing in London, with a little help from his new friend and budding architect, Charlie.

Manuel will be off to Sydney himself soon… Faulty Towers The Dining experience is at Sydney Opera House 24 – 29 September 2013.
For more information and tickets, go to the Australian Tickets page of www.interactivetheatre.com.au or go direct to Sydney Opera House.

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The Birth of a new Basil and Sybil

lara paul

 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.

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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.

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Introducing… Karen Hamilton

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…

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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!

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Introducing… Andy Foreman

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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!

 

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Gift Vouchers!

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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!

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Sydney Opera House Debut!

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

Image used with permission from Sydney Opera House Trust

FaultyTowers cast-570x320

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Making the Fish

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.

 

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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.
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Tweet of the Week

Thanks to Matt Saraceni (@iamnotmatt) on Twitter for sharing this photo of Basil and Manuel at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this week, but can anyone guess what Basil’s saying?

Basil and Manuel have it out at the "Faulty Towers Dining Experience".

A photo posted by Matt Saraceni (@mattsaraceni) on

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