On Friday night we went down to see National Youth Theatre’s new production Relish. Wow, what a show - it’s the story of Britain’s first “celebrity chef,” held in an old tram shed in the heart of London’s Shoreditch.  

Jamie, Gordon and Hugh ain’t got nothing on the tragic twists and turns of Alexis Soyer’s culinary adventures.

From his hometown Paris to cheffing in the kitchens of Britain’s landed gentry, Soyer worked his way up the strict social ladder of Victorian London and bagged a role as head chef at the famous Reform Club. Writer James Graham, (Tory Boyz, 2008) did a fantastic job with a script that’s wildly funny and deeply moving.

The stage, constructed in two tiers and supported by scaffolding, stands in the middle of the space and can be viewed from either side. It’s a relatively small stage and the 60 odd chef-hatted cast members swing and sway; conjuring, in equal parts, the hierarchy of a busy kitchen and a monkey cage.

Stand-out performances come from James Walker playing Soyer with Francophile panache, a foul-mouthed Florence Nightingale played by Tamsin Dowsett and an unbelievably compelling Madame Tussaud and Queen Victoria from Rosie Sansom.

The other star of the show is undoubtedly the innovative costume design by James Button. Where else can you see Queen Victoria in a Coronation gown constructed solely from kitchen utensils, or a ballet dancer adorned with strategically placed Marigolds?

Not to mention a hat made out of mesh food cover– the kitchen accessory rendered redundant in Britain’s cold climes has at last found a reason to be. Button, who has worked previously with National Youth Theatre, looks set for a bright future.

In short, we strongly suggest you get down to Relish - it’s a true treat for the senses. Be warned though, have dinner first: the food smells pumped into the theatre will leave you starving!

IdeasTap members get 20% off tickets. Book now…

Check out our interview with Relish playwright James Graham