Review: Nigel Slater’s Toast at Crewe Lyceum Theatre in Cheshire*

Walking into the Crewe Lyceum Theatre for the press night of Nigel Slater’s Toast. We were immediately greeted with the smell of toasted bread which accompanied us to our seat.  What a welcoming start, especially for a foodie and fan of Nigel Slater and could not wait for the play to start!  For those in the dark, Nigel Slater is a food writer, a chef, TV presenter and author amongst others. He is also one of my favourite chefs and I love everything about him from the way he speaks, his fool-proof recipes to his cooking shows which are so informative and entertaining.   Toast is a play is based on his autobiography, originally published in 2003 of the same name.  The book has since enjoyed critical acclaim and has been made into a movie in 2010 and later adapted by Henry Filloux-Bennett for the stage which first premiered at The Lowry Theatre in Manchester in 2018.

The play focusses on Nigel’s childhood in 1960s Wolverhampton, from the age of nine to sixteen sharing how he found his love for food, how his mum’s death affected him and his turbulent relationship with his Dad (played by Blair Plant).  He also shares how his curiosity was brought alive through Marguerite Patten’s ‘Cooking in Colour’ Cookbook.  Giles Cooper who plays Nigel does a fantastic impression of the chef drawing the crowd into his deep thoughts and makes everything believable.  The light-hearted play does have its dark moments, especially in the first half when Nigel’s mum dies and then later in the second half when his father turns violent.  Katy Federman who plays Nigels’s mum is such a talent and she just captivated me with her acting and persona.   The play is downright honest and shares intimate details on Nigel’s childhood and him coming to terms with his sexuality as it was strange in those times for a boy wanting to cook instead of playing football.

The second half also shares more details about Nigel and his relationship with his step-mother Joan, played by Samantha Hopkins and his coming of age.  My favourite part was seeing the various ingredients and cake props being used on stage with flour being thrown about and the food war between them both and finally mushrooms on toast being cooked live on stage and what an amazing smell that was! Special mention should also go to Stefan Edwards who plays the handsome Josh who got the crowd excited every time he came on stage, thanks to his good looks.

Directed by Jonnie Riordan, the play was smooth and perfectly choreographed with a stunning kitchen set (designed by Libby Watson) on stage that looked like an illustration. The cast of just five were simply amazing and very imaginative, I loved how they cleverly spun the kitchen furniture around to help them create the different scenes as they dance on and off stage to various 60s music by Dustry Springfield, Carole King and Talking Head.

What I found different was that Giles very eloquently narrates the story and then continue to act out his part as Nigel flawlessly.  I also found the play very interactive with the cast handing out food items to the crowd in the front row and constantly engaging with the crowd. The audience were also handed out sweets when Nigel was in the sweet shop and what a wonderful sound the sweet wrappers made as everyone started to open them up.   If you love all things Nigel and adore food, this is one play you must not miss!

CAST
Nigel Giles Cooper
Mum Katy Federman
Dad Blair Plant
Joan Samantha Hopkins
Josh Stefan Edwards
Understudy Dad/Josh Nicholas McBride
Understudy Mum/Joan Alice Keedwell

CREATIVE TEAM
Writer Henry Filloux-Bennett
Director and Choreographer Jonnie Riordan
Designer Libby Watson
Food Director James Thompson
Sound Designer and Composer Alexandra Faye Braithwaite
Lighting Designer Zoe Spurr

When is Toast at Crewe Lyceum Theatre?

The show will be on until Saturday, 7 December 2019 at 7.30pm with matinee shows at 2.30pm.

How much are the tickets?

Show tickets are priced from £12.50 to at £32.50 each.  The pre-show dining with Toast menu inspired by Nigel Slater’s 12 Tastes of Christmas priced at £40 per person will start at 6pm, alternatively, you can also reserve your table in the Lyceum Restaurant for 5.45pm or 12.45pm.

How can I book the tickets?

Tickets can be booked by calling the box office on 01270 368 242 or by visiting Crewe Lyceum’s website here.

Where is Crewe Lyceum Theatre?

Phone: 01270 368242

About Crewe Lyceum Theatre

The Crewe Lyceum Theatre is the only Edwardian theatre in Cheshire East. At over 100 years old, it’s an institution in Crewe and Cheshire. In 2012, HQ Theatres and Hospitality took on operation of the theatre on behalf of Cheshire East Council. The theatre was given an interior facelift culminating with a gala debut of a new restaurant and Circle Suite in May 2012. Today the Lyceum Theatre is the place to be in Cheshire for great evenings of entertainment in luxurious surroundings, enjoyable afternoons of dining or taking the stage for weddings and functions. The Lyceum Theatre also offers opportunities for corporate hire and filming opportunities for television or movies.

About Jonnie Riordan 

Jonnie is a London based Director and Movement Director. He is a proud graduate of Frantic Assembly’s Ignition programme and works closely with the company as a Creative Practitioner. Jonnie is the Associate Director of ThickSkin. As a director credits include Man Up (Frantic Assembly Ignition, Stratford Circus, Lattitude), Boy Magnet and White Noise (ThickSkin) and Found (The Albany). As Movement Director credits include Connections Festival 16/17 (National Theatre), Maggie & Pierre (Finborough Theatre), Mobile (The Paper Birds), Home (Frozen Light), CAUGHT (Pleasance Theatre), A Tale of Two Cities (Brit Project, University of South Florida) and Cracking, Hooked and Bat Boy (Iso Productions, New Wimbledon Studio). Jonnie is the Associate Director for Frantic Assembly’s Things I Know to be True.

About Henry Filloux-Bennett

Henry has worked for organisations including The Lowry, Bill Kenwright Ltd, Theatre Royal Haymarket, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Nottingham Playhouse and HighTide. As a director and independent producer West End credits to date include Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ (Theatre Royal Haymarket) and ‘Well’ by Lisa Kron (Apollo Theatre). Prior to starting in theatre he worked in kitchens including Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s, the two-Michelin star Restaurant Tom Aikens, and the three-Michelin star Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. ‘Toast’ is Henry’s third play. 

About Nigel Slater

Author, columnist, diarist and programme maker, Nigel Slater has been cookery writer for The Observer newspaper for twenty-five years. His best-selling books include the classics ‘Appetite’, the two-volume ‘Tender’, The Kitchen Diaries’ trilogy and most recently ‘The Christmas Chronicles’. His memoir ‘Toast – the Story of a Boy’s Hunger’ won six major awards and became a BBC film starring Helena Bonham Carter and Freddie Highmore. 

Nigel’s BBC television programmes include Simple Suppers, Eating Together and his documentary trilogy Nigel Slater’s Middle East. He is not a professional chef. His food is understated, handcrafted home cooking. He believes there is something quietly civilizing about sharing a meal with other people.   Nigel’s writing has won the National Book Awards, the Glenfiddich Trophy, the James Beard Award, the British Biography of the Year and the André Simon Memorial Prize. Television awards include a Guild of Food Writers’ Award for his BBC1 series Simple Suppers and the BBC Food Personality of the Year. 

Toast is the memoir of Nigel’s childhood. It has won five literary awards and been translated into six languages. Toast has been dramatised for radio, made into a film and has recently been adapted for the stage. After it’s premier at The Lowry and the Edinburgh Fringe it moved to London in the spring and summer of 2019. It is now touring until Christmas.

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* We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.