Ellen Carnazza’s Petronella Parfait mid-sprinkle in Badapple Theatre Company’s new baking comedy Crumbs
THE long-awaited sequel to Badapple Theatre Company’s groundbreaking “live baking” hit comedy is on tour until October 26 and heading to York Theatre Royal next May.
Crumbs, a one-woman show starring Harrogate actress Ellen Carnazza from the pen of Green Hammerton writer-director Kate Bramley, features baking on stage for the audience to taste, as the story of former TV baking show host Petronella Parfait unfolds.
After being “let go” from a high-profile TV show under dubious circumstances, Petronella is trying to re-style herself within the fast-paced and cut-throat world of influencers and social-media millionaires.
“It’s always fun to create a villain as a lead character,” says Kate. “Especially one who then bakes bread live on stage. We’re very lucky to have the brilliant talent of Ellen in the starring role, and she has proven to be an audience favourite already.”
Follow Petronella Parfait’s slips and trips as she tries to keep the lights – as well as the oven – on in the face of almost certain doom.
Combining comedy, song, original music and bread, Crumbs is touring Yorkshire, Northumberland, the South-West and the Midlands in Badapple’s 27th year of delivering original works “on your doorstep”, placing theatre at the heart of rural community life.
Badapple Theatre Company artistic director and writer Kate Bramley
Here Kate picks up the Crumbs story in discussion with CharlesHutchPress.
What gave you the idea for this show, Kate? The popularity of TV baking/cookery shows? Controversies surrounding presenters? The bread-like rise of influencers?
“So it’s a companion play to Daily Bread that I wrote ten years ago about the financial crash. And yes, the recent controversy about TV hosts and the power of influencers has fed into the story of this character.
“But one of the inspiration points was the court case where four female BBC presenters (Martine Croxall, Annita McVeigh, Karin Giannone and Kasia Madera) claimed they were discriminated against, based on sex and age, when they lost their senior roles at the BBC in 2023 as part of a channel re-launch.
“This play isn’t about that event, but it did get me thinking about having a female heroine character, who ironically turns out to be a villain in this piece!”
How would you sum up Crumbs?
“It’s a study of celebrity, especially those like our heroine who have a flexible relationship with the truth…and how food – and the stories we tell while making it – have a universal language, just like laughter, that brings everyone together.”
Ellen Carnazza? With that surname, she should be an Italian bread! Why did you pick her for the role of Petronella Parfait?
“Ellen is a legend. She’s from Leeds originally, now in Harrogate, who first came to us for The Frozen Roman about four years ago and she’s so talented.
“Her skill with accents, her physicality, clowning techniques and all-round sunny personality have all come into play.
“And thankfully when I told her she had to make bread as well as everything else she wasn’t too scared!”
Ellen Carnazza’s Petronella Parfait kneading the dough in Crumbs
What are the challenges of a solo show, as opposed to your productions with bigger casts?
“It’s a real challenge for Ellen, no doubt. So what we’ve done to support her is make sure she gets all the tech and tricks, and a beautiful Badapple full set – from AJ Lowe – that our audience have come to expect.
“I really have pushed the boundaries of what one performer can physically achieve as a storyteller…but our audiences have responded amazingly, so I guess we are doing something right!”
Do you bake bread yourself?
“I do. In fact during Covid I bought flour by the sack and kept making it with my son.”
Is there a crumb of comfort to be drawn from Crumbs?!
“I hope so. As you know, we are all about spreading joy to our audiences, and this is one of our most joyous pieces to date. As a contrast to the times we are living in I guess.
“And you get to have a laugh and get free bread, baked by Ellen during the show, so what’s not to like about that?”
Crumbs plays Green Hammerton Village Hall, near York, on October 14, 7.30pm, sold out ; box office for returns only, 01423 331304.
Further Yorkshire shows will be at Kilham Village Hall, near Bridlington, October 25, 7pm (tickets, 07354 301119) and The Old Girls’ School Community Centre, Sherburn in Elmet, October 26 (tickets, 01977 685178). The show dates for next May at York Theatre Royal are yet to be announced.