Brian Beacom

JAYNE McKenna has a major character trait in common with her stage character, Zoe.

Jayne, who stars in The Band, the musical comedy which features the songs of Take That, was extremely studious at school.

“I wanted to be a doctor growing up,” she recalls of her East Kilbride world.

“I had it all mapped out. But then I joined an amateur theatre company and I played Lady Macbeth.

“I was just 14, and I got the bug from that.”

What was it about this power-crazed, demonic woman that attracted you to her?

“Yes, I wonder,” she says, laughing. “And now I realise how naïve I was I to think there were so many parts like that in the business.”

She adds; “But I do think there was something about playing a woman who was so empowered which elped me realise I didn’t have to go to university. I could make a different life.”h

Jayne, an RSAMD graduate of 1995, went on to work at the The Lyceum in Edinburgh and play a range of great roles in theatre such as the West End production of War Horse.

She starred as Lady Macbeth in professional theatre, has acted in a Bollywood movie and appeared in TV drama Footballer’s Wives.

Now, however, she’s appearing in musical theatre for the first time in The Band.

Zoe is one of a group of girls you meet when they’re young - and then again 25 years later.

Life is meant to be a series of confusions. It’s about finding your way.

“That’s true. That’s why I don’t feel I have to advise the young girls in this production. They have to make their own mistakes. And of those mistakes can come great things.”

Jayne, a mum of three boys, is married to actor Richard Dillane whom she met whille appearing in King Lear.

Does she worry that so many young people seem consumed by fame?

“It does worry me so many judge success by the size of their Instagram feed,” she says.

“And I had to laugh the other day when I read that it was National Selfie Day. As opposed to which other day?

“But I feel the pressure of this must be difficult. for them. I’d hate to feel that pressure to have so much social media activity.

“And young actors are often judged by producers in how large their Instagram following is, thinking this helps to sell product.”

Was she a Take That fan?

“I am now, obviously,” she says, grinning. “No, I wasn’t really a boy band fan. I liked the Blue Nile, the Associates and Hipsway.

“But the thing about the musical is it’s not what you expect. It’s not the story of Take That. The band aren’t even mentioned.

“It’s written by Tim Firth this is the story of five young girls and their mutual love of a boy band.

“Many audience members could imagine a different hero plastered on their wall. It could be about any band.

“More importantly, it’s the story of what happens in life. It’s about what you think will happen to you and then 25 years you realise it’s all turned out so differently.”

Like planning to be a doctor and finding yourself on stage?

“Exactly. And you know when my husband came to see this show he said; ‘My God, you’re in your element.’”

“He was right. I love it up there. I’d made the right choice.”

• The Band, The King’s Theatre, until Saturday.