Waitress, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, 10th August 2026
Marking a decade since its Broadway debut, the touring production of Waitress arrives at the Royal Concert Hall this week, with the promise of feel‑good storytelling, friendship and life affirmation. Based upon the film of the same name, the original productions both sides of the pond were met with critical acclaim. Written and composed by Sara Bareilles with a female-led production team, this is a show that centres women both on-stage and off. It’s perhaps no surprise that at the opening night in Nottingham, male audience members were most definitely in the minority.
Waitress tells the story of Jenna (Carrie Hope Fletcher) and her two fellow waitresses and best friends Becky (Sandra Marvin) and Dawn (Evie Hoskins) all earning a crust in Joe’s Diner where a range of exotic and delicious pies are on offer. Jenna is a first-rate baker and the diner’s biggest asset, conjuring up a different pie of the day to constantly entice the clientele. Jenna’s biggest supporter is the diner’s grouchy owner Joe (Les Dennis) whose life seems to rotate around breakfast served by Jenna. When Jenna finds out she is pregnant, her life is turned on its head however, as she struggles to live in an abusive relationship with husband Earl (Mark Wilshire) and come to terms with her attraction for newly-arrived Dr Pomatter (Dan Partridge) who is set to attend to more than her medical needs.
Fletcher has undoubtedly the greatest challenge and brings to Jenna an endearing blend of vulnerability and determination which no doubt makes her such a relatable figure for many. Some of the other characters fare less well however as Bareilles’ script can sometimes revert to caricature (such as Ellie Ruiz Rodriguez’s Norma) or fail to provide enough substance to supporting roles. Marvin’s Becky and her partner in hate and love Cal (Dan O’Brien) seem to have been particularly short changed. That said, Rodriguez, Marvin and O’Brien all do excellent work with what they are provided with.
Indeed, there is much to praise about this production of Waitress. Bareilles’ beautifully melodic score is brought to life by a talented ensemble and there are some wonderful moments of joy, heartbreak and humour. The relationship that develops between Hoskin’s Dawn and her eccentric love interest Ogie (played with huge physical and vocal skill by Mark Anderson) are a particular joy. Each of the main characters are given their moment in the spotlight, but Ogie’s Never Ever Getting Rid of Me and Becky’s soulful I Didn’t Plan It particularly deserve a mention. The showstopping number however is She Used to be Mine performed with captivating ease by Fletcher’s Jenna.
For all its highs, the story of Waitress can however leave one feeling uneasy. Wilshire’s toxic, abusive Earl is portrayed as the one to hate, yet Ogie’s obsessive dominance of Dawn and Dr Pomatter’s ethically and morally disgraceful behaviour are arguably equally problematic but never really questioned.
Without exception, the cast of Waitress deliver the goods pleasingly and at the helm, Fletcher’s performance is engagingly beautiful. Yet for all the show’s heart and undeniably lovely tunes, the narrative can sometimes feel ponderous and lacking in momentum. I was left wondering if a story about a woman finding her power doesn’t have the same resonance for men and that maybe Waitress is a show for women by women. The rows and rows of women rising to their feet as the cast take their bows are testament to its huge appeal but for me this slice of pie was just a little too bland.
