Waitress
Sunderland Empire
Until Saturday 9 May 2026
Sara Bareilles’ criminally underrated masterpiece comes to Sunderland, packed full of humour, heart and plenty of pie
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Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Waitress is rolling into Sunderland this week. The show, penned by Grammy-award winner Sara Bareilles, is based on the 2007 film of the same name, and tells the story of Jenna, a woman trapped in an awful marriage in small town America. Despite her horrendous homelife, Jenna is an exceptionally gifted baker - her pies are the toast of the town, whilst baking allows her to escape from reality, if only momentarily.
Whilst a violent husband and a penchant for pie-making may not seem like your typical musical storyline, the show is lovingly crafted into a work of pure genius, much like Jenna’s pies themselves. It is a wonderfully genuine exploration of friendship and love, with a brilliant soundtrack and regular moments of absolute hilarity.
Returning to the North East on Monday, the audience in Sunderland were certainly ready to welcome Waitress back, with heartfelt responses to both the humour and moments of poignancy. There were moments where the laughter was almost deafening, and instances where it seemed like everyone in the audience was reaching for a hanky. Such is Waitress - it breaks your heart and heals your soul in equal measure, and this production is no exception.
For a show that is all about the power of sisterhood and women making it work against all the odds, it is only fitting to start with the sheer brilliance of the female performers. Durham-born Emma Lucia takes over from superstar Carrie Hope Fletcher as Jenna Hunterson for the Sunderland leg of the tour, but believe me when I say that she is far from a gap filler. Lucia’s performance is nothing short of breathtaking. From start to finish, she is entirely captivating, holding the audience in the palm of her hand throughout and making it absolutely impossible to tear your eyes away from her.
She is masterfully accompanied by Waitress stalwarts Sandra Marvin as Becky and Evelyn Hoskins as Dawn. With both having played their respective roles before, both on the West End and on previous UK tours, the two have perfected their roles, partnering beautifully with Lucia’s Jenna to make a phenomenal trio. Marvin’s sass throughout makes Becky someone you’d love to hang out with, but it is her powerhouse vocals in I Didn’t Plan It that solidify Marvin’s performance as standout. Hoskins delivers a flawless lesson in comedic performance, carefully crafting the character of Dawn through impeccable timing and brilliant physicality.
Hoskins’ brilliant depiction of Dawn is beautifully complimented by Mark Anderson’s Ogie, who brings a sublime standard of physical comedy to the stage. The audience delighted in every moment Anderson was on stage, with almost every line and movement drawing genuine laughter from the crowd. Their partnership is both hilarious and heartwarming, and it is a true joy to watch the two perform together.
One of the brilliant things about Bareilles’ show is how well-written the male characters are, each one not out to steal the show but to perfectly complement the leading women. Dan Partridge plays a wonderful role as the hapless Dr Pomatter. He manages to be both hilariously chaotic and incredibly earnest, creating a character who is entirely likeable. His vocals are beautiful and the harmonic blend between Partridge and Lucia during You Matter To Me is heavenly.
Perhaps the most famous name in the show, Les Dennis brings a warmth and humour to grumpy Old Joe, whilst Mark Willshire does a great job of portraying Jenna’s waster husband Earl, who is incredibly easy to dislike from the offset. I may have seen the show several times, but Sunderland’s audience surprised me with a round of applause in a place I have never heard it before. Without giving away too much, let’s just say that the clapping was testament to just how much the audience adored Jenna and how much they really hated Earl.
Very few shows make the impact on me that Waitress has done. A show about life, the pursuit of happiness and, of course, pie, I defy anyone to watch this brilliant show and not feel the joy of friendship and that love, in all its forms, has the power to overcome a great number of obstacles. It is borderline criminal that Sunderland has so many tickets left for the show’s run this week - if you do nothing else, treat yourself to a ticket. You won’t be disappointed.
Review: Hannah Daglish
Photos: Johan Persson
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