Waitress axing: Natalie Bassingthwaighte says goodbye to theatre days before musical ends run early

Two days before her musical is set to close, Natalie Bassingthwaighte has said she is ready to move on from treading the boards.

The 50-year-old shared a series of images with her 223,000 Instagram followers of her time performing musical theatre on Australian stages.

It comes as Bassingthwaighte’s run playing Jenna in the recently axed Waitress draws to a close.

Last month, ahead of Sydney performances, promoters cancelled the entire Australian tour of the musical, citing cost of living pressures and poor box office performance.

She mourned the characters she played in Chicago, Chess the Musical, Jagged Little Pill, Shirley Valentine, Grease, Footloose, Rent, and Waitress.

The surprise axing has left Bassingthwaighte open to other career options, she said.

“It has been so incredible to sit in the gratitude for all the many amazing women I have had the opportunity to play in my career,” she wrote in the caption.

“These characters spoke to me in ways that are hard to put into words. They always came at a time when I needed them the most.

“These women were raw and real. Struggling to find their place. But they did. Each story unique, but at the core, a celebration of finding themselves along the way.

“I was able to share these stories with thousands, nationwide, seemingly at a time when they needed it too.

“How great to look back with pride and celebrate theatre. Keep watching and supporting these stories and experiences. You will be changed for good.”

Bassingthwaighte said that her time in the industry might be up.

“I have said that this is it for me in musical theatre. But… I have said that before!!!

“Here’s to the next adventures. On and off the stage.”

In response, her Waitress co-star Rob Mills commented, “Love you mate” with a star emoji.

Waitress will close in Melbourne on July 19.

On Friday morning, the musical’s Instagram page shared an image of Bassingthwaighte standing on stage to promote the final four shows.

She commented that it had been “an honour” to be in the production.

“What an honour it has been to be the Australian Jenna,” she wrote.

“I have loved every minute with this beautiful cast on and off the stage . I am so grateful to all who have come and celebrated.”

In recent months, Back to the Future and Beetlejuice have also been cut short, failing to attract the high ticket sales needed to make the productions financially viable.

John Frost, the producer of Waitress the musical in Australia, told the SMH it was a challenging time in the industry.

“Cost-of-living pressures, interest rate rises and domestic and international economic uncertainty have contributed to softer box office performance across the country placing considerable pressure on productions of all sizes,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we have not been immune to these challenges. Whilst audience enthusiasm for our work remained strong, attendance levels and box office have not been sufficient to support the cost of the production.”

Last month, Bassingthwaighte shared her devastation with the cut on social media.

“It’s been hard to comprehend - the amount of effort that every person in this cast and crew and company have put into this show. It’s devastating that it comes to an end so abruptly,” she said in a video posted on her Instagram Stories.

“My heart is hurting so much for this industry of ours, across the board.

“It’s not just musical theatre: It’s theatre. It’s festivals. It’s shows of any kind. The arts is dying in this country, and that hurts my heart beyond anything,” she said.

In a series of posts made on her Instagram account, Bassingthwaighte told her followers the industry needed support.

“The amount of effort, time and love that people have put into these careers. Their passion, dedication, it only spreads to an audience and it gives humanity reasons to live.

“I know right in the current climate it is almost impossible.”

Although Bassingthwaighte said her concern was for others in the industry, she admitted she was struggling.

“I’m kind of numb, at the same time, that such beautiful work is getting shut down,” she added.

“Everything is just... it’s just such a hard time.”

Bassingthwaighte’s co-star, former Australian Idol content turned Australian musical theatre performed Rob Mills was abrupt in his response.

“Oh s**t. You better come see it and I better look for a job!” he wrote on Instagram.