Waitress at Birmingham Hippodrome Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Lindsay Burton

Serving up a slice of sweetness, humour, and emotional depth, Waitress really did catch me off guard in the best possible way. We went to the opening night of the touring production at Birmingham Hippodrome not really knowing much about it at all. All we had heard beforehand was that it was “a proper girlie show” and that the songs were good. That was about it. So we went in with fairly low expectations and absolutely no real idea of the story. What we ended up watching was something far more layered, emotional, and entertaining than we were prepared for.

At the centre of Waitress is Jenna, played by Carrie Hope Fletcher, who works in a small-town diner and is known for her incredible pie-making skills. On the surface, she’s just getting on with life, but it quickly becomes clear she feels trapped in an unhappy marriage with her controlling husband, Earl. When she unexpectedly finds out she’s pregnant, it forces her to start thinking seriously about her life, her future, and whether she has the strength to change anything.

One of the most interesting parts of the show is how Jenna uses baking pies as a kind of emotional outlet. Each pie reflects what she’s feeling at the time, which is a simple idea but surprisingly effective on stage. It gives the audience a clearer sense of what’s going on inside her without everything needing to be explained in dialogue. It also adds a bit of lightness to some of the heavier themes.

The diner setting also brings in a strong supporting cast, and Jenna’s friendships with her coworkers are a real highlight. Sandra Marvin and Evelyn Hoskins both bring a lot of energy and humour, and their characters help balance out some of the more serious moments in the story. Their scenes together feel very natural and give the show a grounded, everyday feel that makes the emotional parts hit a bit harder.

Things get more complicated when Dr Jim Pomatter arrives, played by Dan Partridge. His character and Jenna develop a connection that adds another layer to her situation, but it also highlights how stuck she really feels in her current life. It’s not presented in a dramatic or exaggerated way, but more as something confusing and human, which works well for the tone of the show.

As the story progresses, Jenna starts to realise she might actually have options she hasn’t considered before, especially when a pie-baking contest offers her a possible way to change her circumstances. It’s not a sudden transformation, but more of a gradual shift as she starts to believe in herself a bit more.

From a performance point of view, Carrie Hope Fletcher is really strong in the role. She feels very comfortable as Jenna and carries a lot of the emotional weight of the show. Sandra Marvin and Evelyn Hoskins also stand out, both for their comedic timing and their vocals, which add a lot of warmth to the production. Dan Partridge is a likeable Dr Pomatter, and Les Dennis brings a quirky, fun energy to Joe, who gets some of the more light-hearted moments.

Other cast members, including Mark Anderson, Mark Willshire, and Dan O’Brien, help round out the ensemble with plenty of humour and personality, making the diner feel like a fully lived-in space rather than just a backdrop.

Overall, it’s a really enjoyable show that blends humour, emotion, and music in a way that feels easy to watch but still meaningful. I didn’t know the story beforehand, but it quickly became one of those productions that sticks with you more than you expect. The songs are catchy, the characters feel relatable, and it manages to be both funny and quite moving at different points.

We’d definitely give it 5/5. The 13+ age guidance feels fair due to some strong language and mature themes, and there are definitely moments that younger or more sensitive viewers might find a bit much.

But overall, it’s a really engaging and heartfelt production that’s well worth seeing if you get the chance. Tickets can be purchased from here https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/waitress-two/#performances

Rating: 5/5