High Wycombe loves its panto — and this year, there’s extra reason to get excited. Stepping into the spotlight as the lovable Jack is none other than Mark Read, singer-songwriter, performer, and one-fourth of the chart-topping boyband A1.
I caught up with Mark ahead of rehearsals for Jack and the Beanstalk at the Wycombe Swan — where he’ll be joined by panto legends La Voix, DJ Scott Mills, and Christina Harris — to talk pop nostalgia, stage mishaps, and what makes Wycombe’s festive crowd one of the best in the business.
“Wycombe definitely loves panto — since it was announced, I’ve had more reactions and messages about this show than ever before,” Mark says with a grin. “Everyone’s super-excited — not just because of me, probably because of La Voix and Scott as well — but it’s wonderful. Hopefully this will be the best one yet.”
Audiences can expect all the ingredients of a classic Wycombe Swan panto — dazzling sets, big laughs, and plenty of audience participation — plus a few surprises.
“There’ll be some amazing songs this year — new ones, classics the kids will know, and even a nod to a certain very popular animated movie,” he teases. “I can’t give too much away, but people can try to guess what it might be!”
And of course, there’s the true star of the show: Buttercup the Cow.
“We’ve got huge personalities in the cast — and that’s just the cow!” Mark laughs. “But it’s such a fun team. We’ve got a great chemistry from working together before — me, Christina, and Scott have done three pantos together now — and that really comes across on stage.”
A familiar face with a festive twist
For longtime fans, Mark’s appearance in panto has become something of a Christmas tradition. This production marks his fifth time playing Jack.
“Honestly, I mostly just go out there and be myself,” he laughs. “I love the chance to do it — I’m not going to say ‘at my age’! It’s just brilliant fun working with the kids and the audience.”
This year’s production also feels special for another reason — it’s closer to home.
“I’ve travelled all over the country for pantos, but this one’s only about an hour and a half from where I live,” Mark says. “So I can have family and friends come along, which is lovely. I’ve done shows in Wycombe before, but when you’re here for a month, you really get to know the town — the cafés, the people, the little shops. I’m genuinely looking forward to that.”
And could he see himself settling here one day? He laughs: “Who knows? Maybe High Wycombe will end up on my list!”
Pop beginnings and a new album…
For many, Mark will always be remembered for A1 — the Brit Award-winning pop group behind hits like Take On Me and Same Old Brand New You. Even with his busy panto schedule, music still plays a huge part in his life.
“We’ve just come back from a huge event in Indonesia,” he says. “We still tour a lot — across Southeast Asia, Scandinavia, all over. It’s been my life now for 25 years, which is wild. I love that I still get to do it all — performing, producing, voiceover work — and that people still come out to see us.”
And in true showbiz fashion, Mark lets slip a couple of exclusives: “We’ve got a new A1 album coming next spring — we’ve been working on it for ages, about 20 songs so far. It might even end up being a double album! Then we’ve got tours lined up in Scandinavia, the Philippines, and North America — the ink’s barely dry on that one.”
He pauses, smiling. “We always get fans asking when we’re coming to the UK. And we will. But when we come back here, it’ll be with something big — we want to make it count.”
Behind the curtain
So what’s life like backstage at panto? According to Mark, it’s every bit as chaotic — and joyful — as you’d imagine.
“Most of our little rituals come with the vocal warm-ups,” he says. “Usually we’ll form a circle before the show, do a bit of a shake-out and warm-up, get the energy going.”
Of course, live theatre means anything can (and often does) happen.
“You always get wardrobe malfunctions — trousers splitting, costumes breaking — but that’s part of the fun,” he says. “We have amazing wardrobe people who’ll fix things super quickly. The audience knows things might go wrong, and that’s the magic of panto. When someone fluffs a line or something unexpected happens, everyone’s in on the joke. It’s what makes it so special.”
Still, this year’s production promises to be better than ever. “It is an incredibly slick, next level show. We did Jack and the Beanstalk last year in Swansea, and this version’s been upgraded again — there’s a new digital set and amazing effects. Top class show.”
Family fun (and a little magic at the top of the beanstalk)
As our chat wraps up, I tell Mark that my five-year-old had a question for him: If you found a magic beanstalk tomorrow, what would you want to find at the top?
He laughs. “That’s such a good one! I’d love to find a wonderful cloud-land — waterfalls, big fluffy clouds, and maybe a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Why not? That’s the beauty of panto — it’s all about imagination.”
🌟 Jack and the Beanstalk at Wycombe Swan
Get ready for giant laughs, huge songs, and a magical adventure that’s fun for the whole family.
📅 Friday 12 December 2025 – Sunday 4 January 2026
🎟️ Tickets and details: wycombeswan.co.uk
✅ From £12-52
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