Laughlines Dinner Fawlty Towers at the Alhambra Bradford Review
Laughlines Dinner
Fawlty Towers
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
11 April 2015
Reviewed by Gemma Ingham
I had a dining experience with a twist at the Laughlines Dinner Fawlty Towers dinner show at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford last night.
The evening was described as an interactive production set in a restaurant where you, the audience, are the diners. I had never been to any show like this before and struggled to see how it would work. Did the cast perform a show while you ate? Did you eat and then watch the show? Did they just re-produce sketches from the show? Surely they don’t actually perform around you and interact with you while you eat? Well yes… they do actually! And the result is hilarious.
The Laughlines Dinner Fawlty Towers Experience is not a show in the traditional sense, rather an interactive dining experience. No one is off limits, and if you expect to eat your meal in peace and quiet then think again. Luckily I managed to avoid being singled out by the cast, but I was definitely in the minority.
Our evening started by arriving at the Alhambra Theatre, easy to find from all surrounding motorways and well signposted. There is ample parking nearby and plenty of disabled parking specifically for the theatre. The theatre is modern and inviting with very welcoming staff. We hadn’t already provided our meal choices so could choose between terrine or parsnip soup for starters, beef bourguignon or salmon for mains, and panna cotta or a cheese board for dessert.
We were directed to the bar area where all guests were to wait to be ‘checked in’ by Basil, Sybil and Manuel. The performance started with Sybil arriving to greet us all, followed by Basil and Manuel. The cast members were fully immersed in their characters, and while references were made to certain sketches from Fawlty Towers, most of the material was made up on the spot in reaction to their audience. A small amount of the show is pre-scripted but the cast were pretty brilliant at improvisation and being influenced by their surroundings. I did feel that the cast took the time to interact with every individual throughout, and surprisingly even remember people’s names.
After being ‘checked in’ and given plenty of belly laughs we were led up to the restaurant and seated. We had already been informed of our table number so there was no worrying about where to sit. There were 6 tables of around 8 people which felt like a really nice number and meant everyone could join in the interaction.
Our food was brought out promptly and to be honest I wasn’t expecting it to be that brilliant as I figured most people would be there for the show rather than the food. But I was wrong, the parsnip soup for starters was wholesome and flavourful, the beef bourguignon was rich and tender, and the vanilla panna cotta for dessert was beautiful.
As we started to eat I found myself scared to move a muscle in case it brought attention to me and I got singled out, but I needn’t have worried. The cast were busy visiting every table and causing mayhem. Sybil was a dab hand at buttering bread while Basil went for a more ‘butchering’ the bread approach. At one point my husband had his beef and potatoes cut up and fed to him by Sybil!
Basil, Sybil and Manuel were of course supported by a full team of waiting staff, but they did pitch in and help if you can call it helping. I’m pretty sure the poor waiting staff had a more difficult job than usual replacing cutlery, giving people the correct food back, and putting chairs back in place!
The cast took a short break halfway through the main course but re-joined us for more laughter and entertainment for the dessert, after which we were treated to a bit of cabaret by Manual, and a musical finale by Basil.
If you’re after a rip roaring, fast paced, high energy, raucous night then this is for you. I left with my cheeks hurting from laughing and a belly full of beautiful food.
Rating: 5/5 
For shows at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford visit www.bradford-theatres.co.uk.
The Alhambra Theatre, Morley Street, Bradford, BD7 1AJ | Box Office 01274 432000
