Monday, 4 February 2019
MT Fest UK, The Other Palace | Press Launch
- The Taster Menu: the main event for showcasing new musicals. Eight semi-staged shows lasting 45 minutes each. Information about the shows and tickets can be found here
- BEAM Brunches: Shining a light on some of the most talented up and coming musical theatre songwriters. Full listings can be found here
- Tea for Two: Frank and inspirational afternoon chats with some of the most celebrated people in musical theatre. Including chats about choreographing a musical, the do's and don'ts for auditions and how theatre criticism is changing. Full listings can be found here
- Night Caps: Informal late night concerts with some of the top musical theatre performers. Paul told us he's also asked the performers to add in a song or two which hints at their next career move which is exciting. To see the performers and book tickets, click here
Monday, 12 February 2024
Initial Casting Announced for Spring Awakening Reunion Concert
Tuesday, 8 February 2022
Evelyn Hoskins on Returning to the Diner Post Pandemic | Waitress the Musical | Interview
I think once you’ve seen the show, if it connects with you, you do get a little bit hooked on it!
If you were telling someone who knows nothing about Waitress why they should see it, how would you sum it up?
It’s the most joyous, hilarious, heartwarming, life-affirming, beautiful show you could possibly see, especially if you’re a woman!
Is there a song in Waitress that makes you particularly emotional?
Definitely A Soft Place to Land. It’s the song before they sort of glow-up Dawn a little bit before her date and it’s just beautiful. The harmonies are stunning.
You’ve had a kind of different experience with Dawn because you played her pre and post pandemic. So, what was it like originally creating your version of Dawn and do you think she’s changed since you’ve come back to the show?
She’s definitely changed. I saw the original Broadway cast of Waitress in 2016 so I saw Kimiko Glenn play Dawn and Kimiko and I both played a role called Thea in Spring Awakening so we’re obviously similar castings anyway; but I think I was definitely influenced by Kimiko’s portrayal because that was my first impression of Dawn.
My portrayal has changed since the pandemic, for sure. I mean, more so because I just feel older if I’m honest; and also I'm more grateful to be here. I was grateful anyway because it’s such a dream show and job of mine but now I feel super grateful.
When you were doing the show at the Adelphi, were you already booked to do the tour?
No I wasn’t. The resident director had kind of asked me if I’d be interested but at the time I was due to do six months in the West End so I was a bit like “I don’t know, maybe, I’ll see how I’m feeling” cause obviously a year is a long time. And then when the show closed in the West End, the producers were very kind and asked all of us if we’d be interested and I was like, yeah, because I didn’t feel done with her at all. I’d barely touched the surface so I’m so glad to be doing it.
How was it when you reopened, did you find it emotional?
Yep! I think I was more emotional on the first day of rehearsals when we did a full read and sing through first thing on the Monday morning. Obviously I hadn’t heard the music since the last show so that was super emotional. Also putting on the little waitress dress again!
You know, when we closed it was so uncertain and the tour got pushed back and pushed back, and we didn’t know if it would actually ever happen so it’s so good to be back!
So far, have you noticed any differences between touring the show and playing on the West End?
It’s very interesting to see the different reactions, I don’t know if I could pinpoint what they are though but Northern audiences have been PHENOMENAL, very very loud!
We’re in Bristol this week which I’m super excited about because it’s near my home town and it’ll be great to get to Woking and then we’re in Bromley so we’ll have some more London audiences. But it’s just a really great show to take around the country and make accessible to people.
Definitely, and here compared to the US, people don’t know the film as much so it’s more of a word of mouth show which must be lovely...
Yeah! Honestly I was really surprised at the reaction. We’re sold out most Saturdays and the audiences have been incredible. We also have some very loyal fans and we often see familiar faces most weeks. I think once you’ve seen the show, if it connects with you, you do get a little bit hooked on it!
That’s so lovely, I’m coming to see it with my mum who’s very excited!
I think it’s a phenomenal show to see with your mum! Bring the women in your life because it’s got such girl power.
Leading on nicely, I wanted to know why you think having a female led show like Waitress tour the country is so important?
The themes of the show are so important. There’s the domestic abuse theme which really strengthens the message and importance of female friendship and female support.
I also think it’s important that we start recognising that the other relationships in our life are just as important as the romantic ones and that’s something this show does.
What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring performers?
Believe in yourself. That sounds super cliched but it’s true. My personal experience is not like a traditional one. I’m from quite a working class background. I didn’t grow up with lots of money which obviously would help you if you wanna go to drama school. But, I didn’t do drama school.
So it’s really about the hustle. Just hustle hard. If you really like an actor’s performance, find out who they’re represented by. Reach out to them and say I really like your client, I feel like I would be a good fit for you too. Same with casting directors, if you really enjoy a show and think it would be something you could do, write to them, tell them how much you like the show, just put yourself out there. And don’t feel like drama school is the be all and end all!
Thank you so much to Evelyn for taking the time to chat to me. Waitress runs at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking from 14th to 19th February before continuing its tour.
Interview by Olivia Mitchell, Editor
photo credit: Johan Persson
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
A Slice of Comfort: Why Waitress on Tour Still Feels Like Coming Home
A Sweet, Emotional and Vocally Stunning ReturnWaitress (Tour) | Woking Theatre | ★★★★
A Sweet, Emotional and Vocally Stunning Return
Ten years after first opening up, Waitress remains one of the most quietly revolutionary musicals of the modern era. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the current UK tour (currently playing at Working Theatre before continuing across the country) proves that this show hasn’t simply endured; it has deepened, matured, and somehow become even more nourishing.
Seeing Waitress again feels less like revisiting a hit musical and more like returning to a favourite café where the staff remember your order and the pie is always warm.
Based on the film of the same name, Waitress tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, a gifted pie maker trapped in an unhappy marriage and an unexpected pregnancy. Dreaming of escape, she pours her emotions into baking, crafting pies that become emotional diary entries disguised as desserts.
The musical, featuring music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, walks a delicate line between romantic comedy, small-town drama, and personal awakening. Yes, there are questionable ethical choices along the way- particularly Jenna’s complicated relationship with her doctor- but and the show never pretends that decisions are simple or entirely admirable. That moral messiness is part of what makes Waitress resonate. Life isn’t tidy. Healing rarely arrives wrapped in perfect decisions. Beneath the imperfect choices lies a deeply human story about reclaiming agency, rediscovering self-worth, and learning that kindness, especially toward yourself, can be revolutionary. Ultimately, it’s a heartwarming tale. One that earns its emotional payoff honestly.
At the centre of the production is Carrie Hope Fletcher as Jenna, delivering a performance that beautifully balances personality, humour, and raw vulnerability. Jenna lives in contradiction, moving between warmth and emotional detachment and Fletcher leans fully into those complexities. One of the most exciting aspects of Waitress is seeing how different performers interpret Jenna, and Fletcher’s portrayal stands out for the way she approaches Jenna’s pregnancy. Rather than playing immediate maternal sentimentality, her Jenna begins from a place of emotional indifference, even quiet resentment. It’s a bold and refreshingly honest choice that makes the character’s journey feel incredibly impactful. As Jenna slowly reconnects with hope and agency, the emotional shift lands with genuine weight. Fletcher allows us to watch a woman rediscover herself in real time, and the result is deeply moving without ever becoming overly sentimental.
Returning to the role of Dawn, Evelyn Hoskins is sheer delight. Her performance is packed with charm, precision comedy, and heartfelt awkwardness. Dawn’s social anxieties and earnest optimism are played with affectionate detail, never reducing her to caricature. Opposite her, Mark Anderson as Ogie proves comedic gold. Together, the pair achieve impeccable timing; their scenes erupt with laughter while remaining irresistibly sincere. Their relationship becomes one of the musical’s purest sources of joy. Eccentric, wholesome, and utterly lovable.
As Becky, Sandra Marvin delivers powerhouse presence. She grounds the show with warmth, wit, and emotional honesty, bringing both humour and lived experience to the role. Becky’s resilience and no-nonsense compassion shine through every interaction, making her both hilarious and quietly profound.
Dan Partridge captures Dr Pomatter’s sincerity and endearing bumbliness perfectly. His portrayal avoids cliché, instead presenting a man who is awkward, emotionally open, and entirely believable. Crucially, Partridge shares an effortless, natural chemistry with Fletcher’s Jenna. Their scenes feel spontaneous and human, which helps the show navigate its ethically complicated romance with empathy rather than judgement.
On the darker end of Jenna’s world, Mark Willshire gives a chilling performance as Earl. Rather than leaning into overt villainy, Willshire builds the character through unsettling subtleties- small physical movements, twitchy gestures, and shifts in tone that reveal Earl’s manipulative nature. His portrayal captures the reality of emotional abuse with uncomfortable accuracy, making Jenna’s longing for escape all the more urgent.
Meanwhile, Dan O'Brien shines as Cal, bringing surprising depth to a role that could easily become one-note. His gruff exterior slowly gives way to warmth and humour, adding another layer of humanity to the diner’s ecosystem.
The diner trio -Jenna, Becky, and Dawn- provide some of the evening’s most grounding emotional moments. Their camaraderie embodies the show’s wholesome core: women supporting one another not through grand speeches or theatrical declarations, but through everyday loyalty, teasing humour, and shared survival.
There is an ease between Fletcher, Marvin, and Hoskins that makes their friendship feel entirely authentic. You believe these women have worked side by side for years, carrying each other through heartbreaks, bad shifts, and small victories. Their scenes offer comfort as much as comedy, reminding us that sometimes community is the real love story.
Even beyond the central characters, the production excels in its attention to ensemble storytelling. Every secondary role feels thoughtfully realised, from fleeting diner customers to background interactions that quietly enrich the world of the show. No performer feels incidental; each contributes to a town that feels specific, affectionate, and recognisably human.
It’s this collective commitment that makes the touring production so effective. Rather than relying solely on star power, the company builds a living, breathing community; one that audiences are invited into from the moment the lights rise.
Every time I see Waitress, I’m struck anew by how Jenna’s emotional world is physically expressed onstage. Through clever stagecraft, her environment subtly grows larger or smaller depending on who she’s with. Moments of confinement tighten the space around her, while scenes of possibility quite literally open the world up. The attention to detail extends everywhere: the comforting glow of the diner, the tactile realism of the kitchen, and the seamless transitions that keep the story moving like a perfectly timed recipe. The staging never overwhelms the narrative; instead, it quietly mirrors Jenna’s inner life.
Bareilles’ score remains one of contemporary musical theatre’s finest achievements. Songs unfold like conversations rather than showstoppers, allowing audiences to slip into Jenna’s thoughts rather than watch them from afar. Numbers arrive exactly when emotions can no longer stay unspoken.
The 10th anniversary tour reminds us why Waitress became such a beloved phenomenon in the first place. It’s funny without cruelty, romantic without fantasy, hopeful without denying hardship and as sweet as pie in all the best ways.
Yes, the story contains morally complicated relationships. Yes, its characters make imperfect choices. But beneath everything lies a message that continues to resonate: people deserve second chances, especially the chance to choose themselves.
In an era of spectacle-driven musicals, Waitress remains disarmingly sincere. It doesn’t shout for attention; it invites you in, offers you something warm, and leaves you feeling just a little more hopeful than when you arrived.
Monday, 14 February 2022
Waitress (Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
Thursday, 16 October 2025
Matthew Harvey’s New Musical Unbound Releases Haunting Live Album for London Theatre Fans
Thursday, 9 September 2021
Waitress, New Wimbledon Theatre | Review
On the menu at Wimbledon Theatre this week, Waitress the Musical follows Jenna Hunterson (Lucie Jones), an aspiring baker who, with the support of her colleagues and dreamy gynecologist, imagines an escape from her provincial life and unhappy marriage. Based on the 2007 film by the late Adrienne Shelly, Waitress is a bittersweet story of friendship, love and finding yourself, with (nearly) all the ingredients for a tasty theatrical treat.
Music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles add flavour and spice to this quaint story; her playful, folk-pop score is full of frolicking motifs, followed by some gorgeous reflective numbers. They accompany a book by Jessie Nelson which is delightfully witty and whimsical throughout, but sometimes suffers from its more casual tone.
We are introduced to a collective of characters who are wholly endearing yet undeniably flawed, and it is refreshing to spend time with such imperfect and compromised characters. However, their poor choices often lack consequence and the stakes never quite feel high enough. Likewise, the shows treatment of domestic violence is lacking. Her abusive marriage to tip-stealing husband Earl - played by Tamlyn Henderson, who nonetheless deftly balances the fine line between comedic stock villain and insidious manipulator - is explored in a just a few short scenes which are uncomfortably inserted into the narrative. Though pitched as a feminist drama, any moral message is half baked.
Jones steals our heart as weary waitress Jenna, giving a sensitive and nuanced performance which perfectly reflects the heartache, anguish and disappointment of our begrudgingly pregnant protagonist. Her buttery vocals are rich and controlled; her control and clarity unsurpassed. Jones’ soaring rendition of She Used To Be Mine across a silent auditorium scored a well-deserved mid-show ovation.
Jenna’s colleagues are equally well cast. Evelyn Hoskins is totally loveable as the adorably anxious Dawn, whose slow burning affection and excitement for new beau Ogie, brought to life with a welcome touch of innocence and youthfulness by George Crawford, is joyous to watch. Sandra Marvin similarly packs a punch as the feisty, lively yet loyal Becky.
The duo provides comfort and advice to the expectant mother as she cautiously begins to imagine a new life for herself and her baby. Waitress offers such a lovely, intimate insight into female friendship, and it is in these quieter moments that the show really lands. As Dr Pomatter, Jenna’s forbidden love interest, Matt Willis proves himself to be a highly capable actor, capturing the character’s goofy and bumbling demeanour with ease. It is just a shame that his slightly nasally vocals are lost in his duets with Jones.
Lorin Latarro’s choreography is inspired, with instructive and empathetic gesturing by the ensemble used to cleverly mirror the movements of the lead characters. As Jenna goes into labour during Contraction Ballet, a female quartet pulsate and swell perfectly in time. The ensemble is so in sync throughout and are truly mesmerising to watch.
Latarro’s routines are complemented by tastefully restrained lighting design (Ken Billington) that features but a series of coloured spotlights. Likewise, both set (Scott Pask) and costume (Suttirat Anne Larlarb) are simplistic, if not a tad twee, but offer a sense of familiarity and warmth which gives the show heart. A final special mention must go to on-stage band that seamlessly integrate themselves into the diner landscape – you wonder if their music is meant to be diegetic given how often we see into Jenna’s mind as she creates her fantastical pies.
Waitress isn’t perfect, but it most certainly serves the audience with a little slice of happiness pie. Surely they’ll be coming back for second helpings?
Photo credit: Johan Persson
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