L-R Lizzy Muncey as Mum, Giles Cooper as Nigel Slater – c Simon AnnandFollowing its successful London transfer to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Other Palace, Nigel Slater’s Toast announces its full cast for its UK tour, which launches at Huddersfield’s Lawrence Batley Theatre on 19th August, where the play’s writer Henry Filloux-Bennett has recently been appointed Chief Executive, and will conclude at the Crewe Lyceum on 7th December 2019.
In addition to the previously announced Giles Cooper as Nigel Slater, he is joined by Katy Federman (Abigail’s Party, The Fulstow Boys) as Mum and Blair Plant (The Railway Children, The Ladykillers) as Dad. Samantha Hopkins (One Man Two Guvnors, Duet for One) plays Joan and Stefan Edwards (The Mousetrap, All or Nothing) completes the company as Josh.
From making the perfect sherry trifle, waging war over cakes through to the playground politics of sweets and the rigid rules of restaurant dining, this is a moving and evocative tale of love, loss and… toast.
Nigel Slater said: “With the London run approaching its conclusion, it’s an extremely exciting time as the words on the page will soon come to life once again for audiences around the country. I’m thrilled that the play will continue its journey after The Other Palace.”
Henry Filloux-Bennett continued: “Having written ‘Toast’ whilst working at The Lowry, that the production is coming back to the North of England after its run at The Other Palace is exciting enough. Now that I have moved to the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield, I’m completely delighted that we get to open the tour of ‘Toast’ here in Yorkshire, starting as it will our 25th Anniversary season.”
Based on the British Book Awards Biography of the Year, Toast tells the story of Nigel Slater’s childhood through the tastes and smells he grew up with, vividly recreating suburban England in the 1960s and enveloping audiences with the evocative sights and sounds of cookery that defined the significant moments of his youth.
Originally produced by The Lowry for Week 53 festival in 2018, Toast is written by Henry Filloux-Bennett and directed by Jonnie Riordan. It is co-produced by PW Productions and Karl Sydow, who between them are behind some of the most successful regional touring productions, An Inspector Calls, The Woman in Black, & Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story On Stage.
The author of a collection of bestselling books and presenter of nine BBC television series, Nigel Slater has been the food columnist for The Observer for 25 years. His memoir Toast – the Story of a Boy’s Hunger won six major awards, has been translated into five languages and became a BBC film starring Helena Bonham Carter and Freddie Highmore. Nigel’s latest book Greenfeast has recently been published by HarperCollins.
Nigel Slater’s Toast – Autumn Tour 2019
Mon 19 – Sat 24 August Box Office: 01484 430 528
Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield
www.thelbt.org
Mon 26 – Sat 31 August Box Office: 01865 305 305
Oxford Playhouse
www.oxfordplayhouse.com
Tues 3 – Sat 7 September Box Office: 01702 351 135
Southend Palace Theatre
www.palacetheatresouthend.co.uk
Tues 10 – Sat 14 September Box Office: 0151 709 4776
Liverpool Playhouse
www.everymanplayhouse.com/
Tues 17 – Sat 21 September Box Office: 0191 230 5151
Northern Stage, Newcastle
www.northernstage.co.uk
Mon 30 September – Sat 5 October Box Office: 01684 892 277
Malvern Theatres
www.malvern-theatres.co.uk
Mon 7 – Sat 12 October Box Office: 01604 624 811
Royal & Derngate, Northampton
www.royalandderngate.co.uk
Mon 21 – Sat 26 October Box Office: 0844 871 7651
Richmond Theatre
Mon 28 October – Sat 2 November Box Office: 0844 871 7650
Theatre Royal Brighton
Mon 4 – Sat 9 November Box Office: 01722 320 333
Salisbury Playhouse
www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk
Mon 11 – Sat 16 November Box Office: 0343 208 6000
The Lowry, Salford
www.thelowry.com
Tues 19 – Sat 23 November Box Office: 01904 623 568
York Theatre Royal
www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
Mon 25 – Sat 30 November Box Office: 01246 345 222
Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield
www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/
Tues 3 – Sat 7 December Box Office: 01270 368 242
Crewe Lyceum Theatre
www.crewelyceum.co.uk