Meet our Jack in our latest Q&A with Mia Overfield

Have you appeared in pantomime before?
I have not and I couldn’t be more excited to be making my debut at the stunning York Theatre Royal, and Jack and the Beanstalk is going to be such an amazing show to start with! Since a very young age Pantomimes have been so fun to watch, so now to actually be a part of one is a whole new level of excitement!

Are you looking forward to climbing the beanstalk – how are you with heights?
I actually do quite well with heights, they never bother me as much as I think they will, it’s definitely a mind over matter thing for me!

Do you like beans?
I think beans are great, a good beans on toast with LOTS of cheese can really make for a great day! Also Jelly Beans are a gem too, particularly the Very Cherry ones I’d have to say that they’re my favourite.

How has your first year out of drama school been?
It has been a dream! I was always so nervous to leave because I had the most wonderful time during my training but I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities that I’ve had, one of which being a year long UK & Ireland tour with David Williams’ Demon Dentist. It was such a great experience, such a lovely way to spend my first year out of training!

You were in the UK tour of David Walliams’s Demon Dentist in the ensemble and understudied all the female roles in the show – did you get to go on for indisposed actors?
I did! I was lucky enough to be able to go on for all of my cover tracks, which was honestly a bit of a relief because you put so much work into learning lines and directions, it would have been a shame to not have had the opportunity to play around with the different characters. I understudied Gabz, Winnie and the Demon Dentist herself Miss Root!

What made you want to be an actor/performer? Any particular role models?
My first memory of performing that I remember was from when I was very little and my cousin and I would gather the family to watch our rendition of the songs and dances from Cats the Musical. I had the DVDs of Cats and Phantom of the Opera when I was little and would watch them closely so I could perform them in the living room for my loved ones, at the time I really thought I was giving Olivier Award winning performances. From then I knew performing and theatre was going to be a big part of my life.

Any unusual interests or activities you enjoy away from acting?
I wouldn’t say I have any unusual interests, I love cooking, reading and listening to music or podcasts, you’ll never catch me sat in silence! I do also have a big love for Tarot Reading and have many decks of cards that I always have around just in case I feel pulled to do a reading, I’d say I’m quite a spiritual person so I meditate and journal a lot too.

Interview by Steve Pratt.

Jack and the Beanstalk, York Theatre Royal | 08 Dec 2023 – 07 Jan 2024