Sheffield Lyceum – until Saturday 17th October 2026
Reviewed by Claire Moore
4****
Waitress arrives in Sheffield with West End star Lucie Jones returning to the role of Jenna, alongside Les Dennis as Old Joe.
Set in a small American town, the musical tells the story of Jenna, a talented pie-maker working in a local diner who dreams of a happier life. Stuck in an unhappy marriage, she finds comfort in baking and the friendship of her fellow waitresses, Becky (Bernadette Bangura) and Dawn (Evie Hoskins). But when an unexpected pregnancy and a handsome new doctor (Dan Partridge) turn her world upside down, Jenna is forced to think about what she really wants from life.
Based on the 2007 film written and directed by Adrienne Shelly, Waitress features music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson. It combines humour, friendship and romance with some much more serious themes, exploring what it takes to find the courage to change your life.
Jenna puts on a brave face each day, telling the world she’s ‘happy enough’, but her daydreams tell a different story. With a change in lighting, and soft music the real world fades and we’re taken into Jenna’s imagination as she dreams up new pie recipes. It’s a lovely way of showing us what’s going on in her head and giving her a brief escape from the reality of her life.
Although the show deals with some tough real-life situations, there’s plenty of humour to lighten the mood. In particular, the developing relationship between Dawn and Ogie (Mark Anderson), who are both a little awkward but soon discover just how much they have in common. Including a shared love of American Revolution reenactments — trust me, it’s much funnier than it sounds!
Lucie Jones is fabulous as Jenna. Her voice is outstanding, but it’s also the way she portrays Jenna’s emotions that makes her performance so believable. You really find yourself rooting for her. The friendship between Jenna, Dawn and Becky is another highlight, with the three women supporting each other through whatever life throws at them. There’s a lovely message about female friendship and the importance of having people in your corner.
The choreography is very cleverly done, particularly the way props are passed between characters as scenes unfold. Plates, ingredients, bowls move seamlessly from one person to another, turning even the simplest movements into part of the performance. It keeps everything flowing and adds a real sense of energy to the diner scenes.
It was also great to see the live band on stage. With the limited space at Sheffield’s Lyceum, this can’t have been easy to achieve, but having the piano as part of the diner and musicians joining the action works really well.
The set moves smoothly between the diner, the doctor’s surgery and Jenna’s home. The contrast between the bright, colourful diner and the bleakness of her home is particularly effective, showing just how much happier Jenna is at work baking pies than she is in her own house.
But will life improve for Jenna? No spoilers for those who haven’t seen it, but it’s fair to say you’ll leave the theatre feeling a little more joyful, perhaps a little more grateful for the friends and family in your life — and probably wanting some pie.