Theatre Review: Waitress, Bristol Hippodrome
Rating: ★★★★
Running Dates: Tuesday 4th August – Saturday 8th August 2026
Where to see it: Bristol Hippodrome
Duration: 2 hours 35 minutes (incl. interval)
Review
A 4-star pie and truly deserved standing ovation!
Making its debut on Broadway in 2016, Waitress the musical is making the rounds for the 10th anniversary, we had a chance to review at Bristol Hippodrome. The storyline originates from the 2007 film Waitress, written and directed by Adrienne Shelly.
The storyline follows Jenna (Carrie Hope Fletcher), a pie-maker working in a small-town diner, who finds herself navigating an unplanned pregnancy while feeling stuck in an unhappy marriage. The story follows the relationship she has with those around her and how these blossom (and don’t), considering what a future life might look like.
A standout thought about the production is how well they balance the heavy themes of abusive relationships and unhappiness with light-hearted friendships and humour, we particularly loved the adult innuendos thrown in.
I think Jenna’s performance was outstanding, from her vocals, to navigating all the emotions on set. The storyline was clear to follow regardless of whether you knew the plot and Jenna cleverly channelled her inner vulnerability which left a strong impression on us as the audience.
Photography by Matt Crockett
Becky and Dawn (fellow diner workers and friends) bring incredible energy to the stage, Becky is your typical unapologetic, strong-minded individual but even then, there’s a plot twist with her character! Dawn is a cute, awkward, softer character who’s impossible not to love.
That being said, Ogie is unforgettable, no plot twists here but the exaggerated, chaotic character was very much welcomed by us.
Cast aside, we loved the set design, how it easily flowed through the stage, the occasional musician alongside the actors/actresses and the attention to detail to the diner and baking areas, you truly couldn’t fault it.
We loved the music and how this fit within the performance, ‘She used to be mine’ has become a central part to the show’s identity which you can see why when being performed, we also enjoyed ‘What baking can do’ as it gave Jenna’s performance an extra craft of creativity and imagination.
Overall, we’d recommend the production, the cast work incredible together, the set design was amazing, and it was a well-orchestrated performance.
Written by Tamara Lawrence
Disclaimer: These tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review