Current Auditions:
Want to be involved but don’t want to act? There’s always plenty to do backstage – see our membership page for details.
Non-members are welcome but please read the notes on this page.
Membership Commitment – as part of your membership we expect all members to support the theatre by assisting with our Front of House Operations when the theatre is open for performances by either Stewarding, working on the Bar or Coffee Bar. We term this as a “Duty” and members are expected to do eight “Duties” per membership year.
New Members will be asked to do three duties before the run of any production they are cast in. Existing members should ensure that they have fulfilled their quota of duties before auditioning or they may not be considered for a production. All members should do a minimum of three duties within a four month period.
The Crescent Theatre is committed to the promotion of equal opportunities within the theatre, and affiliated projects, through the way we manage the venue and provide services to the community. No person should experience discrimination or lack of opportunities on the grounds of gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. In the provision of services and in regards to the membership and visiting companies, the Crescent Theatre is committed to promoting equal opportunities for everyone. Click here for our Statement of Commitment on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. If you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to access an audition, you can let us know in advance by filling in an online audition form.
Please note the opportunities below are unpaid
Please note
While auditions are intended for members, non-members are welcome to attend on the understanding that, if successful in reading for a part, you would be expected to become a member of the theatre. This entitles you to take part in all theatre activities and to concessionary ticket prices. In return you will be expected to attend all rehearsals and performances and to undertake your required allocation of front of house duties. Your membership subscription must be paid by the end of the second rehearsal. Membership fees for a year are £60 (£25 if unwaged). More details on Crescent Membership can be found in the membership pages.
Unless stated otherwise, the venue for all readings and auditions is the Crescent Theatre.
Nigel Slater’s Toast
By Henry Filloux-Bennett
Production Dates: 12 – 19 Sep 2026
Tech Week: 6 – 11 Sep 2026
Based on Nigel Slater’s best-selling memoir, Toast is a poignant coming-of-age story that tracks a young boy’s journey through love, loss, and the foods that shaped him. We will be creating a truly immersive sensory environment, as real food will be cooked on stage!
Rather than relying on strict realism, we will breathe life into Nigel’s childhood memories using stylized physical theatre elements. The ensemble will create everything from suburban kitchen chores to grocery shopping trips in rhythmic, expressive movement that captures the imagination of youth. We will play with the nostalgia for 1960s Britain, through period music, retro sweet shops, and the comfort of home cooking.
Characters
Nigel: The protagonist and narrator. He guides the audience through his own memories, transitioning from a naive, food-obsessed 9-year-old baking jam tarts to a self-discovering, independent teenager. He uses wry, sardonic asides to the audience to cope with family tragedy and his emerging sexuality. Nigel must be played by an adult.
Other than the actor playing Nigel, all other performers will play a number of the characters below. This is a true ensemble piece in which we could have a cast of 5-15
Mum (Alan Slater’s first wife): A gentle, loving, but fragile woman who is fundamentally “stuck in the 1950s” kitchen mentality. Though she is a famously terrible cook (often relying on canned goods or burning the toast), her relationship with Nigel is deeply warm, sensory, and affectionate—making her early death the emotional fracture point of the play.
Dad (Alan Slater): Nigel’s distant, hot-tempered, and deeply traditional father. He works at a car factory and desperately wants Nigel to be a “traditional” masculine boy, openly mocking his son’s preference for home economics over sports. He is highly repressed, struggles with grief after his wife passes, and displays simmering homophobic prejudices.
Joan: Initially introduced as the family’s fiercely competitive, chain-smoking cleaner who arrives after Mum passes away. She eventually marries Dad to become Nigel’s stepmother. She is an exceptional baker—triggering a passive-aggressive “war over lemon meringue pies” with teenage Nigel—and acts as a secondary antagonist who gleefully critiques his mother’s memory.
Josh: The handsome family gardener. He represents one of Nigel’s earliest childhood crushes and a source of quiet escape.
Warrel: Nigel’s childhood best friend. They navigate the “playground politics of sweets” together, featuring heavily in a comedic, fast-paced scene exploring the strict differences between “boys’ sweets” and “girls’ sweets.”
Doreen: The compassionate and open-minded local restaurant owner who gives a teenage Nigel his first professional cooking job. She shows him genuine kindness.
Miss A: Nigel’s strict, somewhat eccentric school domestic science (cookery) teacher who chastises the schoolboys for their dirty minds.
Sam/ Stuart: Figures representing Nigel’s emerging sexuality and teenage romance, including the chef’s son/coworker at the restaurant with whom Nigel shares a pivotal first kiss.
Waitress: An intimidating, starch-aproned presence at a traditional British hotel.
Flinch 1 & Flinch 2: Two highly stylized, physical ensemble roles. They literally “flinch” or react with synchronized, exaggerated horror whenever Nigel or his father breaks a social taboo or drops a piece of cutlery in the restaurant.
Peggy: A colorful local neighbor who interacts with Nigel during his early years.
Janice: A vibrant, trend-focused girl or young woman from Nigel’s school orbit.
Aunt Elvie: Nigel’s well-meaning but overbearing, traditional aunt.
Uncle Len: The classic, loud, post-war British uncle.
Mrs E: An exacting, judgmental figure or neighbor embedded in Nigel’s memories of rigid British high society.
Ad 1 & Ad 2: Two ensemble characters representing the commercial world of 1960s food advertising.
Savoy Chef: A grand, idealized figure representing high-class culinary perfection.
Please note that due to the nature of the production there will be some physicality involved in both the auditions and performances. This can be adapted and catered to the performer’s physical capabilities. No Dance/ physical theatre experience required.
Auditions
The auditions will take place on:
Tuesday 23rd June, 7:30-10pm in the Cumberland Room
Wednesday 24th June, 7:30-10pm in the Roma Rehearsal Room
Our recall date (if required) will be: Saturday 27th June, 2-6pm
Please sign up to audition here. We will endeavor to send an email to confirm your attendance to the auditions, but we cannot guarantee this.
If you are not a current member of the Crescent Theatre membership, please let Box Office know you have arrived and then wait in the foyer for a member of the panel to come and collect you.
Each audition will start with an introduction from the production team followed by a general briefing of the show and audition process.
We will then have a short physical warmup before we try group scene readings. Stylized physicality is important to the play – please incorporate this into your readings.
We encourage you to familiarise yourself with each piece, as you may be asked to read for additional roles.
Those only wishing to read for ensemble roles will then be able to leave to allow the people reading for Nigel, Mum, Dad and Joan to read.
If you are unable to attend either rehearsal date, please drop us an email (toast@crescent-theatre.co.uk) and we shall try to find an alternative for you.
The audition pieces are as follows:
Ensemble Section – You will be asked to read these in small groups. Depending on amount of auditionees you may be asked to read for more than one script
Role Specific – You will only be required to read these pieces if you specify one of these roles on the form. However, we may also ask people to remain to boost numbers if required.
- Nigel 1 + 2 (two short monologues)
- Nigel & Joan
- Nigel, Mum & Dad
Intimacy
There are intimate moments between Nigel and his Mum that involve physical contact and dance.
Doreen and Stuart will share a hug and kiss in greeting (mother and son).
Nigel and Stuart share a kiss in act 2.
Nigel and Joan share a hug.
There is choreographed violence between Nigel and his father through a whipping scene.
As this play has elements of physical theatre, there is likely going to be physical contact between all performers over the course of the play.
There are a number of controversial topics within the show including: abuse, neglect, homophobia, death and sexual themes.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will begin on Tuesday 30th June and will follow the pattern of:
Tuesday: 7:30-10pm
Wednesday: 7:30-10pm
Saturday: 2-6pm
There are two periods where we will not be rehearsing due to the Director’s prior commitments.
These are:
Saturday 18th – Wednesday 22nd July
Tuesday 18th & Wednesday 19th August
If cast, please try to plan any additional holidays during these times.
If you have any questions about the audition or rehearsal process, please do not hesitate to get in touch,
We look forward to meeting you,
Mark Shaun Walsh
Director
toast@crescent-theatre.co.uk
Lou Styles
Production Assistant