Tag Archives: theatre

Ben’s bike ride – a marathon for charity

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Ben Hood – one of our performers – is currently cycling 600km from London to Amsterdam. And back.

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This might sound crazy, but it’s all for a brilliant charity: Venus Blazing Music and Theatre Trust helps children with severe learning difficulties to develop performance and social skills in a creative theatre and music environment.

Ben cycle map

Ben left London on 30 June, passing through Dover, Calais, Bruges and Antwerp on his way to Amsterdam, returning via Rotterdam… he hopes to return (!) by 7 July. We hope he does too: Ben plays two characters in The Wedding Reception and is scheduled to appear in the show’s 23 and 30 July performances at Kingsway Hall Hotel in London’s Covent Garden.

Ben says: ‘Any donation at all would make a huge difference to the charity. And knowing that a few people are behind me when I’m lost in The Netherlands with raging saddle sores would help spur me on in a huge way!’.

This is the link to donate: it is really quick and simple and you can donate up until 30 July 2015!

 

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Bookings at London Charing Cross now open until 1 May 2016!

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Great news! Tickets for the show’s London West End residency are now open for the whole of the coming year; that includes the pre-Christmas season and all private bookings outside of regular performance days.

Opened in October 2012, shows here in The Torquay Suite Theatre of Amba Hotel Charing Cross rank consistently high in TripAdvisor’s top London Theatre listings.

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Australian Tour

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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.

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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

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Tweet of the Week

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Our tweet of the week is from, Nieuwe Nobelaer (@Nobelaer), setting up for the first show of our Dutch tour.

and here’s a photo from @ben_turner on Instagram who was in the audience

Tickets to shows in the Netherlands can be found here.

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Introducing…Anthony Sottile

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This week we’ll be introducing Anthony Sottile, an Australian actor who has been playing Manuel in Faulty Towers The Dining Experience for just over 3 years now. He is currently touring in Europe and made in his debut on the West End, London last October.

Anthony Sottile, Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, Manuel

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

A: Plainly put, seeing the world – and unfortunately I have too many favourite Faulty moments to only mention one!

Q2: Describe yourself in 3 words?

A: Mostly always bloated!

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

A: Edinburgh 2011 – Kevin Whittle was playing Basil and it was the beginning of the show out in the alley-way, and he read out the first name on the seating plan… “Sharky”. A lady responded to her name being called and Basil pretended he didn’t hear her and stepped in to help the situation. “Mr. Faulty, Mr. Faulty, is this lady”, “Who?”… “the fish lady”, and that’s all I said. The crowd broke into fits of laughter and Kevin corpsed, and I couldn’t hold it in either. It’s the only time I have truly corpsed.

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

A: We’re both eager to please and I’d like to think pure and kind hearted. And sweet! And adorable!!… Did I mention humble…?

 

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

A: Probably a cat… I like lounging around (I’m quite good at it really), and it’d be nice to try it with an extra pair of legs!

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

A: Recently, I’ve been performing with Jordan mostly, so I’ve become accustomed to his musical sound effects (hint: they sound like various breeds of ducks being run over by a car!).

Anthony Sottile, Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, Fawlty Towers, Manuel

Anthony performing in Zwolle, Netherlands in February this year.

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

A: Innocent Spanish man looking for lovely catholic Spanish lady, who likes small fury little things!!

Q8: What was your last tweet or Facebook status?

A: I shared a video we made of Manuel on his way to Heerlen, Netherlands.

Q9: What don’t you leave home without?

A: Mobile phone and wallet.

Q10: Do you have any hidden talents?

A: Yes, a few – but they’re not for public viewing; hence “hidden talents”!

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