SOUTHEND THEATRE SCENE
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THE UK AND IRELAND TOUR OF
THE SMASH HIT ROMANTIC MUSICAL COMEDY


WAITRESS
ANNOUNCES 
DAVID HUNTER AS ‘DR POMATTER’
AND
WENDY MAE BROWN AS ‘BECKY’

JOINING
CHELSEA HALFPENNY AS ‘JENNA’ (Interview with Chelsea below)
AND 
EVELYN HOSKINS AS ‘DAWN’ 
​
David Hunter
Wendy Mae Brown
Chelsea Halfpenny
Producers Barry & Fran Weissler and David Ian are delighted to announce that David Hunter and Wendy Mae Brown will join the cast of the UK and Ireland Tour of the smash hit romantic musical comedy WAITRESS as ‘Dr Pomatter’ and ‘Becky’. waitressthemusical.co.uk
​

Wendy Mae Brown joins the production from 30 March 2022, David Hunter will appear in Llandudno from 30 March to 2 April 2022 and then from 30 May 2022.

They join Chelsea Halfpenny as ‘Jenna’, Evelyn Hoskins as ‘Dawn’, George Crawford as ‘Ogie’, Michael Starke as ‘Joe’ Tamlyn Henderson as ‘Earl’ and Christopher D. Hunt as ‘Cal’. The company also includes Monique Ashe-Palmer, Amelia Atherton, Donal Brennan, Aimée Fisher, Scarlet Gabriel, Nathanael Landskroner, Charlie Martin, Liam McHugh, Olivia Mitchell, Ben Morris and Brian Roland. 

David Hunter reprises his role as ‘Dr Pomatter’ having originated the role in the West End production of Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre. His other West End credits include Kinky Boots, Once, One Man, Two Guvnors, Songs For A New World, Tommy and Seussical. David gained national notoriety during his time on ITV’s Superstar, competing to play the role of ‘Jesus’ in Jesus Christ Superstar. His other film and television credits include Nativity 3, Holby City and Doctors. David is also the front man of pop-rock band, Reemer. 

Wendy Mae Brown’s West End theatre credits include The Book of Dust, The Lorax and Kiss Me, Kate. Her other theatre credits include To Kill A Mockingbird, Ghost The Musical, Rent and South Pacific. Her television credits include Almost Never, River, Man Down, Porters, 40 North and Casualty. Wendy’s film credits include Four Weddings and a Funeral, Your Christmas or Mine?, Last Chance Harvey and Blackbeard The Pirate. 

Chelsea Halfpenny began her career in the popular children’s television series Byker Grove. She appeared as ‘Amy Wyatt’ in Emmerdale for three years and ‘Alice Munroe’ in Casualty, a part she played for four years. Chelsea recently made her West End debut as ‘Judy Bernly’ in 9 to 5 The Musical at the Savoy Theatre.

Evelyn Hoskins most recently played the role of ‘Dawn’ in Waitress in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre. Her other theatre credits include the title role in Carrie at Southwark Playhouse, Spring Awakening at the Lyric Hammersmith and in the West End, Assassins at the Nottingham Playhouse and Watermill Theatre, Mrs Henderson Presents at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, Peter and the Starcatcher at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate, This Is My Family at Sheffield Crucible and on UK Tour, The Boy Who Fell Into A Book at the Stephen Joseph Theatre and The Secret Garden at Birmingham Rep.

WAITRESS is based on the 2007 movie written by Adrienne Shelly. Music and lyrics are written by GRAMMY award-winning, singer-songwriter sensation Sara Bareilles, who appeared on the Graham Norton TV show, performing the hit song from the show She Used To Be Mine. With a book by Jessie Nelson, direction by Tony-award winner Diane Paulus and choreography by Lorin Latarro, Waitress has garnered multiple awards and nominations in both America and the UK, receiving acclaim from both audiences and critics alike. 

WAITRESS opened on Broadway on 24th April 2016 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, where it ran until 5th January 2020. Waitress celebrated its official opening night at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End on 7 March 2019. The North American tour of Waitress is currently on hold due to COVID-19. Waitress is currently on tour in Japan (Japanese language production), and is set to open in Australia and Holland.

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. 
Picture
Chelsea Halfpenny Interview 

We know you well from your time on Emmerdale and Casualty, what made you want to move into theatre work as well? Are there any big differences between the two styles of work? 

It wasn’t a conscious move into musical theatre, I was lucky enough to be seen for a couple of musicals and I’ve always sung. I had been for a few auditions here and there which didn’t go that well and then I just happened to get the audition for 9 to 5 The Musical and the stars sort of aligned and it went my way. I ended up doing that show from 2019 until March 2020 and once that door was open to me in this industry, I was able to be seen for more musical theatre. The biggest difference between the two is the hours! You go to bed late and you get up late as we work mainly in the evening. It’s also physically a lot more demanding – if you have a cold or your voice isn’t quite there because you’re run down you do have to take sick days which when you’re doing television doesn’t happen so much. There’s also the thrill of having a live audience and getting that instant feedback which is amazing. 

In terms of keeping up the stamina, you really do have to look after yourself and think about what you’re eating and how much you’re chatting. I definitely don’t really drink alcohol when I’m doing theatre because it makes me very talkative and talking a bit louder which isn’t super helpful! You just have to be conscious of what you’re putting in your body and also where you are expending your energy to make sure you can deliver a great performance every night. 

Waitress is a show that is so loved by fans, were you a fan of the show prior to joining it? 

I was a huge fan, a really geeky fan of the show and I am not ashamed to say that at all. I really loved it so now getting to be part of it is a total dream come true! 

Can you explain a little about the story, and the journey your character, Jenna, goes on? 

The story is about Jenna who is an expert pie baker and works in a diner. She has two great friends, Becky and Dawn, who work there with her. We discover quite quickly that she is quite unhappy in her marriage, and she bakes all her emotions into her pies, that is how she expresses herself. Then a new Doctor comes to town and he changes her perspective on things. The story unfolds from there! It’s all about love and finding love in the places that you might not expect to. 

The music in the show has taken on a life of its own, with some numbers quickly becoming firm favourites for people. Why do you think this is, and do you have a particular favourite number to watch or perform? 

I think the main reason is that Sara Bareilles seems to write literally from her heart. She writes things that are so specific but at the same time you can take what you want from it as well. The songs tell the exact story of Waitress beautifully, but also you can relate everything that she has written to your own life for loads of different reasons. Even the funny songs have really heartfelt serious moments to them, and layers to them that you can discover each time you listen to the songs. They take on another life with each listen. 

I know that She Used To Be Mine is such a firm favourite for people, and it gets sung a lot. I can see why; the lyrics are just so heart wrenching and the music is beautiful. I also love Dawn’s song When He Sees Me, that’s one that seems funny but it’s actually really emotional. 

What’s it like touring the UK with a show, does it differ to your experience of performing in the West End? 
The logistics are a bit different, with packing up your bag and your dressing room every week and in a way it goes by so quickly as you’re so busy. It’s lovely to have a different audience each week in every town and city we visit as everywhere has its own vibe. We can feel the emotions of the audience in different parts of the show.

And finally, is there a piece of advice you have received or that you would pass on to anyone hoping to go into performing in some way? 

This is easier said than done, but always believe in yourself and give yourself a goal. It’s really easy to take on any negative feedback and dwell on it but just remember that it’s someone else’s opinion and to keep working at your dreams! 

Book by Jessie Nelson
Music and Lyrics by Grammy Award-winner Sara Bareilles
Based upon the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly
Directed by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus

WAITRESS was originally produced by Barry & Fran Weissler and Norton and Elayne Herrick. The tour is produced by Barry & Fran Weissler and David Ian Productions.

LISTINGS 
WAITRESS UK & IRELAND TOUR 2021/2022
waitressthemusical.co.uk
Facebook/Instagram/Twitter - @waitressuk
8 – 12 MARCH 2022
NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL
theatreroyal.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Sandra Marvin – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter. 

21 – 26 MARCH 2022
THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH
theatreroyal.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Sandra Marvin – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter. 

30 MARCH – 2 APRIL 2022
LLANDUDNO VENUE CYMRU 
venuecymru.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, David Hunter – Dr Pomatter. 

5 – 9 APRIL 2022
EDEN COURT INVERNESS
eden-court.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter. 

12 - 16 APRIL 2022
GLASGOW KING’S THEATRE
atgtickets.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter. 

25 – 30 APRIL 2022
OXFORD NEW THEATRE
atgtickets.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter. 

9 – 14 MAY 2022
LIVERPOOL EMPIRE 
atgtickets.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter. 

16 – 21 MAY 2022
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
birminghamhippodrome.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter. 

24 - 28 MAY 2022
THE MAYFLOWER, SOUTHAMPTON
mayflower.org.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter. 

30 MAY – 4 JUNE 2022
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF 
wmc.org.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, David Hunter – Dr Pomatter. 

7 – 18 JUNE 2022
BORD GÁIS ENERGY THEATRE DUBLIN
bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, David Hunter – Dr Pomatter. 

20 - 25 JUNE 2022
TORQUAY PRINCESS THEATRE 
atgtickets.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, David Hunter – Dr Pomatter. 

28 JUNE – 2 JULY 2022
WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE
grandtheatre.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, David Hunter – Dr Pomatter. 

4 – 9 JULY 2022
DARTFORD ORCHARD THEATRE
orchardtheatre.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, David Hunter – Dr Pomatter. 

11 – 16 JULY 2022
BRIGHTON THEATRE ROYAL
atgtickets.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, David Hunter – Dr Pomatter. 

18 – 23 JULY 2022
NOTTINGHAM ROYAL CONCERT HALL
trch.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, David Hunter – Dr Pomatter. 

25 – 30 JULY 2022
BRADFORD ALHAMBRA 
bradford-theatres.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, David Hunter – Dr Pomatter. 

1 – 6 AUGUST 2022
CANTERBURY MARLOWE THEATRE
marlowetheatre.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, David Hunter – Dr Pomatter. 

9 – 13 AUGUST 2022
SOUTHEND CLIFFS PAVILION
southendtheatres.org.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, David Hunter – Dr Pomatter. 

15 – 20 AUGUST 2022
NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL
norwichtheatre.org
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Wendy Mae Brown – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, David Hunter – Dr Pomatter. 

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  • Home
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    • Main feature writer - Kim Tobin
  • LATEST
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