With the festive season fast approaching, we caught up with the enchanting Meesha Turner, who will be dazzling audiences as Jazz in Norwich Theatre’s panto Aladdin. Join us as we discover what makes this talented actress tick, from being a maths genius to her unexpected love for a certain cheesy Christmas tradition.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
Hi I am Meesha Turner. I went to the Royal Academy of Music and did my masters in musical theatre, and then I started my theatre journey. I graduated during COVID, so that was stressful. I managed to get a great agent, and my first job was at SIX in the West End. I played Catherine Parr, “survived”. I had a great time and met some of my best friends for life on that job. I have luckily been working ever since: I did Mrs Cratchit in the Old Vic’s Christmas Carol, as well as a lot of freelance gigs as well. I am currently in Stranger Things the First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre, having a great time, and I am really excited to do Christmas here in Norwich.
What do you love most about your job?
I really love having a creative license to play with things. I just love having fun on stage. You can have the same lines every day for a year, but you get a different energy every day based on the audience, whether there are covers or whatever. And I simply love being able to play with the characters every day and seeing the audience’s response to the show that you are in that they have had fun in as well.
Tell us something we don’t know about you
Ok. A shocking fact: I did my maths GCSE when I was 11 years old. I am actually a bit of a Carol Vorderman!
How do you unwind from a day on the stage?
Watching some kind of trash TV. Currently, it is Love is Blind UK, it is so good, formerly Love Island. But it’s some kind of rubbish that I don’t have to concentrate too hard. I can pop an episode on, have a cup of tea, and then go to bed.
Are you looking forward to playing Jazz?
I am so excited. Aladdin was one of my favourite Disney films growing up, and it is my first panto. I am really excited because Stranger Things has been incredible for the last year, but this is going to be such a contrast to doing that. I can’t wait to have a fun Christmas in Norwich.
Have you ever been to Norwich before?
No, I have never explored the city, but I just had a walk around earlier, and it looks lovely, so I can’t wait to find the best places to go. I have already heard there is really good food and coffee here. I am a massive foodie, so I am looking forward to getting nice and fat over Christmas and eating everything.
Describe your perfect day for us?
Oooh! It is sunny and I am going to start the day with a coffee outside somewhere. I would meet some friends for brunch and then maybe go to a matinee at the theatre. Go for dinner. You know when I said I was a foodie my perfect day is pretty much revolved around food. And then in the evening maybe cocktails.
You are spending Christmas with us. What is your favourite part of Christmas?
Cheese board! Having a cheese board on Christmas day. I actually make a banging cheeseboard and every year I haven’t been able to go home for Christmas and spent Christmas with friends and I have been like I will be in charge of the cheese board.
On my cheese board is a brie. You have to have blue cheese, Wensleydale, stilton, and a red Leicester, and then crackers, grapes, berries, and stuff to make it look cute.
If you could play any princess who would it be and why?
I’m changing the question a little, but I would absolutely love to play a villain. It would be so fun to play a villain. Obviously, I am really excited to play a princess, and Jazz is badass as well, so if I am going to play a princess, she is the one. But yeah, I would love to play a villain because it’s so not me, and I am thinking of the Shadow Man in The Princess and the Frog. He is a cool villain, and we can twist that up.
You can catch Meesha in Aladdin, Norwich Theatre’s genie-us Norfolk pantomime. Aladdin is on at Norwich Theatre Royal between 7 Dec – 5 Jan. For more information and to book, visit norwichtheatre.org or call the Box Office on 01603 630 000.
