Burnt Toast SFX was formed in 2019 and is based in Lincoln in the East Midlands. Although we’re the ‘new kids on the block,’ we’ve already hired and built special effects for productions and events all over the UK.
Our talented creative SFX team have a wealth of experience in designing, engineering and building high quality special effects for theatre, TV and film, and ours is a truly bespoke service. From initial enquiry to delivery of your FX, we make the magic happen.
Jamie Marcus
Jamie Marcus had an extremely successful career as an actor. He worked all over the world from New York to Moscow to London’s West End in musicals and plays. Jamie also appeared in numerous TV shows including Heartbeat for ITV.
He turned to producing professional theatre in 2005 and soon realised first-hand the need for high-quality special effects that could adapt to suit both large scale theatre productions as well as open-air events and so…… Burnt Toast SFX was born!
In its first full year the company had created and built over a dozen special effects from red arrows to flying jet packs which were seen all over the UK.
Over the last year the company has added even more incredible effects to their portfolio and is now working with some wonderful clients.
Pete Coxon
Pete Coxon is a pioneer of the modern theatrical ‘special effect’. For the past 36 years, he’s been designing and building both effects and theatre sets that have been seen all over the world.
His first ‘non-wired’ effect was made 27 years ago for the pantomime giant ‘E and B’ and although his design’s been copied many times, it’s never been bettered!
In 2015, Pete was asked to design and build the incredible ‘Santa Sleigh’ for the West End production of ‘Elf’ at the Dominion Theatre. Mark Shenton (London’s top critic) described it as ‘spectacular’!
In 2019 Pete joined Burnt Toast SFX and since then has designed, created and built ‘Limitless Levitation’, ‘Jet pack 360°’ and the spectacular ‘Red Arrow’. Pete has also built 6 special effect cars from scratch, his most recent is ‘The Windsor’ classic convertible in 2020.
Outside of theatre effects Pete has built hydraulic workshop floor cranes and forklifts for BAE systems, Mclaren F1, Pirelli and HSBC. His designing and fabricating of steelwork is second to none.
Even in his spare time he restores cars!
Duncan Parker
Duncan has over 20 years combined experience in Commercial, Decorative and Scenic Arts. For the Entertainment Industry he has worked for London’s West End, New York’s Broadway, Las Vegas, UK National and International shows as well as some of the UK’s biggest theme parks and entertainment giants such as Disney and the BBC.
Duncan started his career working for his father as an Apprentice Signwriter after which he studied Decorative Arts at Lincoln University, specialising in paint finishes. After graduating, he worked in London for 6 years as a Decorative Artist in Interiors and then returned to Lincoln to work as a Scenic Artist and Assistant Set Designer for 3 years.
He then moved to Canada for 3 years, gaining more experience in Film and TV commercials in addition to Theatre scenery for the U.S.A. whilst furthering his qualifications in Classical Drawing at Alberta’s College of Arts. He now resides in Nottingham trading as a Freelance Scenic Artist, Theatre Set Designer, Decorative & Mural Artist and Traditional Signwriter as well as lecturing at Lincoln University in Scenic Artistry.
Julie Fox
Julie has extensive experience in the creative arts, having worked as an actor, writer and director for over thirty years.
She trained at the Barbara Speake Stage School in London and has worked extensively in both straight and musical theatre.
In 2006 Julie was assistant director on Sleeping Beauty at the Lyceum Theatre Sheffield starring Sherrie Hewson. Julie has recently turned her hand to writing and directing the pantomime at the Lincoln Drill Hall for seventeen years.
As a creative and dedicated freelance writer, Julie has a wealth of experience writing pantomimes and comedy, and also specialises in devising scripts for children and young adults focusing on social and personal issues.
Richard Askam
After 35 years in his own various businesses that he founded, developed and exited from, Richard has joined Burnt Toast SFX as Business Development Consultant to assist with their continuing growth strategy. A theatre lover and budding thespian, he has already settled in to the role over the last 6 months and helped the company re-locate to larger premises and already brought in new business. There are many exciting plans ahead for Burnt Toast and Richard looks forward seeing those come to fruition.
Paul Woollock and Marco Davey
Paul and Marco are our ‘wizards’ of all things metal, electric and animatronic, and between them, their skills bring our effects to life!
With a wealth of experience in their respective fields, they‘re the real ’engine’ behind Burnt Toast SFX.
Sarah Edwards
Sarah comes from a theatrical family, and has worked in theatre in various capacities since leaving school. Having trained as an actor at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama she appeared in TV, theatre and radio productions.
She subsequently spent several years in ticketing, for various West End theatres and ticket agencies, and more recently CRM and marketing at venues in Lincoln before joining Burnt Toast SFX.
Benjy Jones
Benjy recently left Sheffield university and has experience working in both visual spectacle and sound design for events and event spaces, including museums and theatres.
Kate Alexander (CP Accounting)
Kate has many years of accounting experience and has been working on behalf of Burnt Toast sfx since 2021 helping to build and grow this thriving company.
