Nigel Slater's TOAST Announces Edinburgh Fringe Festival Dates At Traverse Theatre

Following its world premiere at The Lowry, Salford, in May, the stage adaption of Nigel Slater's best-selling memoirs Toast is to be performed at the world-famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe as part of Traverse Festival 2018, it has been announced today.

Toast has been commissioned by The Lowry - the most visited cultural destination in the North West - as part of its biennial Week 53 arts festival, where it runs from Tuesday 22 May to Saturday 2 June - with extra dates now on sale.

The production will then play as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from Tuesday 7 to Sunday 26 August, at the Traverse Theatre - a powerhouse of vibrant new work and a champion of creativity and new writing.

Vividly recreating suburban England in the 1960s, Nigel Slater's childhood is told through the tastes and smells he grew up with.

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.

Originally produced by The Lowry for Week 53 festival, Toast is adapted by Henry Filloux-Bennett and directed by Jonnie Riordan.

Nigel Slater said: "I have always felt the story would work well on stage and this adaption is beautifully written, warm, funny and produced with originality and great sensitivity. My story couldn't be in better hands."

Director Jonnie Riordan said: "I'm hugely excited about getting the opportunity to direct the first stage adaptation of Nigel Slater's Toast. What we hope to make will be bold and imaginative, allowing the audience to really invest and experience Nigel's story up close on stage. I fell in love with the book when I first read it and can't wait to share it with audiences on stage."

Julia Fawcett OBE, chief executive of The Lowry, said: "The Lowry's Week 53 commission Toast is sure to be an incredible production and it will be an extremely proud moment when the show makes its world premiere on our Lyric Stage. Today's announcement is wonderful news for all involved with the show and all those who have come on board as we are able to give Toast life outside the Week 53 festival and share it with audiences across the country."

Casting to be announced.

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 is currently presenting the programme Middle East on BBC2.

www.thelowry.com/Week53 / @The_Lowry

www.traverse.co.uk / @traversetheatre

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