Carrie Hope Fletcher will head the cast of Waitress when the romantic musical comedy begins a new UK & Ireland tour in 2026, opening at New Wimbledon Theatre.
Currently on stage as the title role in the UK & Ireland tour of Calamity Jane, Fletcher will play Jenna for a limited run of the show, which is based on the 2007 movie written by Adrienne Shelly.
Music and lyrics are written by Sara Bareilles, with a book by Jessie Nelson, direction by Diane Paulus and choreography by Lorin Latarro.
Waitress tells the story of Jenna, an expert pie maker in a small town, who dreams of a way out of her loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s new doctor may offer her a chance at a new life, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes to happiness. But Jenna must find the courage and strength within herself to rebuild her life. This beautiful musical celebrates friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.
Waitress first opened on Broadway on April 24, 2016, at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, where it ran until January 5, 2020. It celebrated its official opening night at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End on March 7, 2019. Further productions have opened in North America, Japan, Holland, a French language production in Canada and it is currently playing a Spanish language production in Mexico.
It was originally produced by Barry & Fran Weissler and Norton and Elayne Herrick. The tour is produced by Barry & Fran Weissler and David Ian Productions.
Waitress begins its UK & Ireland tour at New Wimbledon Theatre, playing from March 28 – April 4, 2026. Tickets are now on sale here.
Top image: Waitress previous production [Montreal]. Photo Marie-Andrée Lemire (image supplied)