Waitress

Waitress is playing the Lyric Theatre at The Lowry from 27 to 29 October, a short run that forms part of the production's 10th anniversary UK tour. Lucie Jones returns to the role of Jenna, with Les Dennis as Old Joe, and Evelyn Hoskins and Sandra Marvin rounding out the cast. It's a three-day window, so if you're going, you'll need to pick your night early.

For those who haven't come across it, Waitress is adapted by Jessie Nelson from the 2007 indie film by Adrienne Shelly. The music comes from singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, and the whole creative team is all-female. It's billed as a life-affirming feel-good hit, and it earns that description by mixing peppy songs with romance and dramedy. The story follows Jenna, a diner waitress who finds her way through baking and the people around her, and the score carries a lot of the heavy lifting, with Bareilles' songwriting giving the show its particular sound.

This run is part of the 10th anniversary UK tour, so it's a production that's been on the road for a while. Lucie Jones is reprising her role as Jenna, and Les Dennis is back as Old Joe, with Evelyn Hoskins and Sandra Marvin joining them on stage. It's a small cast for a musical, and the focus stays on the characters and the songs rather than big set pieces. The run is short—27 to 29 October—at the Lyric Theatre at The Lowry in Salford, so it's a quick stop in Manchester rather than a long residency.