THEATRE audiences are going to be whisked away on an “emotional and extraordinary” journey in Nigel Slater’s Toast.

Following its world premiere at The Lowry, Salford in May, a sold-out run as part of Traverse Festival 2018 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and a London transfer to The Other Palace, the show comes to Salisbury Playhouse from November 4 to 9.

Toast is based on the food columnist and broadcaster’s best-selling autobiography of the same name, which was also turned into a film in 2010.

But Nigel admits when he was approached by playwright Henry Filloux-Bennett to adapt it for theatre he did not think it would work.

“I said ‘No.’ I just didn’t see how it would work on stage. But when he sent part of the script I was completely blown away. I could feel the emotions; I could almost reach out and touch the people. I thought ‘This is going to work, let’s have a go,’” he explains.

“It is my story, so I do feel protective of it. But Henry got the spirit of the book straight away and Jonnie picked up the sense of fun, so I felt it was all in extremely good hands. I’ve kept a close watch on it, but everyone understood it is more than just a story of a little boy and his mum. It’s a bigger than that. It’s affected many people.”

Giles Cooper, whose theatre credits include This House, People and After The Dance at the National Theatre, and Henry V and The Duchess of Malfi at Shakespeare’s Globe, plays Nigel.

He says to play Nigel is such an “incredible honour and responsibility”.

Explaining what the show is all about he says: “Essentially what it is is the story of Nigel’s formative years. We meet Nigel aged nine and his life is quite jovial and fun and rosy. Then it all takes a downturn, I don’t want to give too much away, but he has quite an emotional and extraordinary journey through to his late teens and young adult years. Of course what accompanies him through all of this period is food — his love of food.

“What audiences can really expect to see is a very entertaining, heartfelt and hilarious show which really takes people on a trip of hardcore nostalgia.

“The one thing we can all relate to is experiences with food, especially food from our childhood.”

Giles is joined on stage by Katy Federman, Blair Plant, Samantha Hopkins and Stefan Edwards.

Giles has previously performed at Salisbury Playhouse and says he is “thrilled” to be coming back with this show, which will be a “multi-sensory” experience for audiences.

Toast is written by Henry Filloux-Bennett and directed by Jonnie Riordan. For tickets go to wiltshirecreative.co.uk or call 01722 320333.