Waitress at the Pavilion: dates, cast and tickets

Waitress has arrived at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre for its first-ever run here, and it is not a long stay: the show opened on Monday 24 August and closes on Saturday 29 August. If you have been meaning to catch it, the window is short, so it is worth sorting a date sooner rather than later.

The story is a simple, warm one. Jenna is a waitress and a talented pie-maker who is not exactly happy with where her life has landed. When a new doctor moves into town, things get complicated, and with the help of her colleagues Becky and Dawn, she works her way through the mess to find something worth holding onto. It is the kind of show that leans on laughter and friendship rather than big twists, which is a good part of why it has landed so well.

Behind the scenes, the pedigree is genuinely impressive. The music and lyrics come from Grammy winner Sara Bareilles, who has sold millions of albums and singles and whose songs have been streamed billions of times; the book is by screenwriter Jessie Nelson, and the production is directed by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus, who took home the prize for Best Direction of a Musical for Pippin in 2013. Lorin Latarro handles the choreography.

The cast is worth noting too. Emma Lucia returns as Jenna, the pie-making waitress, and Evelyn Hoskins is back as Dawn, a role she has played before in the West End and on tour. Mark Anderson plays Ogie, Sandra Marvin takes Becky, Les Dennis is Joe, Dan Partridge plays Dr Pomatter, Dan O'Brien is Cal, and Mark Willshire plays Earl. There is a nice local connection in the mix as well: Bernadette Bangura makes her Pavilion debut as the Fairy Godmother, having previously worked on the theatre's own admin team.

On the practical side, the show runs about two hours and 35 minutes with a 20-minute interval, and doors open half an hour before the performance, so there is no need to rush. The schedule is worth a quick check before you commit, because it is not the same every night: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday are 7.30pm only; Wednesday and Saturday both have a 2.30pm matinee and a 7.30pm evening show. There was no performance on the opening Monday, so the run effectively gets going from Tuesday.

Tickets start at £18, and there are a few ways to bring that down if you are planning ahead. There is £4 off for under-16s and over-60s, and group discounts of £6 off for ten or more and £8 off for twenty or more, though those only apply to Monday to Thursday performances. You can book online or by phone, and the Pavilion sits right in the middle of town with buses, trains and parking all within easy reach.

As for how it lands, the reviews have been consistently kind. The Express called it hilariously emotional and warm, witty, wise and hilarious; The Stage pointed to one of the best scores in years; and The Times described it as a slice of five-star musical pie. Whether you are a regular at the Pavilion or just looking for something to fill an evening, it is a safe bet for a night out.