Jack Meredith was cast in the West End production of Caroline, or Change, which has led to his nomination for Child Performer of the Year at The Stage Debut Awards for his portrayal of Noah, with the ceremony taking place this Sunday in London. Recently, Jack has been playing Benjamin in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, seeing him perform across the summer at The London Palladium, along with appearances on Britain’s Got Talent and This Morning, with the show closing yesterday. We caught up with Jack to talk about his time in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, playing Noah in Caroline, or Change and being nominated for a Stage Debut Award.

How did you feel booking your role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat?

It felt amazing. It was so fun and I met loads of great friends in the show. I played Benjamin, which is a great role.

What was it like being part of the cast and performing at The London Palladium?

It was amazing being part of the cast and it’s a big theatre, so it was very fun. It has been completely sold out to 2400 people every night! It was amazing working with Jason Donovan and Sheridan Smith. Sheridan is so kind to us kids and got us presents. Jac Yarrow is an absolute legend, he’s so fun to work with, and we have our own handshake as two Jacks!

You performed on Britain’s Got Talent and This Morning, what were these like to do?

Britain’s Got Talent was actually amazing because I got to meet all the judges, including my celebrity crush, Amanda Holden! It was also really fun to see how it all works backstage. This Morning was really fun as well because our whole Yellow Team were asked to do it. It was so fun being on TV and the presenters were different, I don’t think it was Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.

Can you tell us about your time as Noah in Caroline, or Change?

My time as Noah in Caroline, or Change was one of the most amazing times ever in my life. I couldn’t have asked for a better West End debut. I can relate to Noah sometimes in parts of the show, so I found it was a very nice character to play. Working with such a lovely and experienced team, such as Sharon D. Clarke (who I got to fight every night!) and Michael Longhurst, was incredible. It was a family atmosphere so it was awesome when Sharon got the Olivier and now awarded a Broadway transfer! Shame I’m not going!

Your portrayal of Noah has led to you being nominated for Child Performer of the Year at The Stage Debut Awards, how did you find out the news and how does it feel being nominated?

I feel so proud of myself because none of this was expected. I didn’t really know what the awards were so it was an amazing surprise to be nominated for this award and caps an incredible 12 months that I’ll never forget.

I was sitting down in my grandad’s garden and my dad got a message, I saw it and I was like “no way!”.

Will you be attending the ceremony and have you met the other nominees in your category?

I will be attending the ceremony and no, I haven’t, but want to congratulate them too.

How does it feel stepping on stage for the first time in a production?

It feels very nerve-racking. We had our dress rehearsal two hours before our first production show in Joseph so we didn’t know if we were going to be able to make it through the first show, but we did, so we were all proud of ourselves.

What was your first stage production and how did you find the experience?

My first stage production was Oliver! in the Alban Arena. The experience was very thrilling and nerve-racking because I didn’t know how acting was going to be as I was just trying it out.

We understand you’ve recently filmed for a BBC drama, what was it like being on set?

It was very, very fun being on set. I remember there was one time when I was on set and the other actor was about to say his line and I asked what he was saying but we’d already started filming! I was like, “oh, sorry! Let me settle down and start acting”. That was a funny part of filming.

How was it filming the Kingsmill commercial and seeing it on TV?

It was thrilling being backstage because it was a 30-second advert but it was about 12 hours of solid labour work. It was very, very fun. Seeing it on TV makes you realise how different it looks to seeing it backstage. It was so cool when I got the message saying it was going to be on so many channels!

How did you get into acting?

My mum and dad signed me up to lots of hobbies and one of them was a local drama school called Stagecoach, and I just fell in love with acting.

Do you remember the first theatre show you watched?

I remember the first West End theatre show I watched and that was The Lion King.

What are your plans for the rest of the year?

I’ve got a workshop coming up for a show that might go to the West End. I’m going to let the auditions keep on coming and see where those auditions take me.

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