Cast Announced For World Premiere Of Stage Adaptation Of Nigel Slater's TOAST At The Lowry, Salford

Ahead of rehearsals starting on Monday, cast has been announced for the world premiere run of the stage adaptation of Nigel Slater's memoirs Toast, at The Lowry in Salford.

Samuel Newton (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, UK Tour) will play Nigel Slater, with Lizzie Muncey (Twelfth Night, National Theatre) playing Mum, and Stephen Ventura (The 39 Steps, West End) playing Dad. Marie Lawrence (Murder in Successville, BBC3) plays Joan and Andy Brady (Nativity! UK Tour) as Josh/Stuart completes the cast.

Nigel Slater said: "With casting now complete it's an extremely exciting time as the words on the page start to come to life. To have your life story portrayed through film was incredible but there was always that thing with film that no matter how beautifully something's filmed, it isn't quite real. And this production will be. That, for me, is very very exciting."

Samuel Newton adds: "Toast is a lovely story about a boy who struggled to find himself growing up who then found his way. It's a story that lots of people will be able to connect with and relate to in terms of their own childhood experiences.

"I am a foodie - my mum was always keen that I learned about food when I was growing up and she's probably even more excited than anyone about me playing Nigel. Ahead of rehearsals starting I've been making a new Nigel Slater recipe every day - which is the closest to method acting I'll get!"

Vividly recreating suburban England in the 1960s, Nigel Slater's childhood is told through the tastes and smells he grew up with. To reflect this, audiences will be offered samples of the dishes and tastes central to Nigel's story during the show.

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.

Toast runs at The Lowry from Tuesday 22 May to Saturday 2 June.

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.

A Week 53 commission, Toast is adapted by Henry Filloux-Bennett and directed by Jonnie Riordan.

Week 53 is part of The Lowry's ambition to host bold and experimental contemporary art that is accessible and engaging to a broad audience. The inaugural festival, exploring The Lowry's relationship with place under the theme 'Locus', saw approximately 10,000 visitors entertained by 200 performers across 63 performances - 33% of which were first time visitors. The Lowry is the most visited cultural destination in the North West and is increasingly expanding its role as producer and commissioner, cementing its position as a power house for culture.

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