On 14th December, Jaymi Hensley will begin his run as Prince Charming in Cinderella at Marina Theatre in Lowestoft alongside Anna Morgan as Cinderella and John Lyons as Baron Hardup, with the pantomime ending performances on 2nd January. As a stage performer, Jaymi has played Joseph on the UK Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, recently performed in Queenz at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and, as a presenter, he has worked on projects such as CBBC and Hits Radio. Jaymi and his boyband Union J finished fourth on Series 9 of The X Factor and have since released their own music and toured on a number of occasions, and Jaymi is releasing his own album A Christmas Wish on the 13th of this month. Chatting to us, Jaymi talks about his upcoming performance of Prince Charming in Cinderella, being part of Queenz at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and his new album A Christmas Wish.

This year, you are playing Prince Charming in Cinderella at Marina Theatre in Lowestoft, what can audiences expect from your performance?

My first time being a Prince, I’m hoping to bring some old school romance and big powerful vocals.

Why would you recommend families see Cinderella at Marina Theatre this Christmas?

I think, after the past two years, pantomime is the perfect excuse to have a feel-good time and Cinderella is the perfect story of someone wanting more from life, a way I’m sure many people have felt during the pandemic.

What are you most looking forward to for starting your role of Prince Charming this month?

Being royal, haha, joking aside I’ve seen the score and really excited about the songs we’re performing.

How is it interacting with families during the shows?

That’s what it’s all about, the audience and families are as much a part of the cast as we are!

What are pantomimes like to rehearse for and how is it reading the script for the first time?

Panto is notoriously quick in terms of rehearsal so it’s very fun and full on. I love most when you read the script with the other actors as it all starts to feel real.

Do you have a favourite aspect of performing in pantomimes?

Everything! The costumes, the songs, the people, it’s just the best time.

In 2019, you played Joseph on the UK Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, how was this?

Joseph was life-changing on so many levels!

You’ve recently performed with Queenz, can you say more about the run?

Yes, we took Queenz to Edinburgh Fringe Festival which has always been on my bucket list! And ended up with a sell-out run and five-star reviews which was unreal.

We understand you also work as a presenter, what are some of the projects you’ve been involved with?

I’ve really loved working in broadcasting both on TV with CBBC or radio with Hits Radio. I’ve just recently finished presenting for Warner Brothers and The Harry Potter Franchise as a behind-the-scenes presenter of the studios.

Can you tell us about your new A Christmas Wish album?

Last year, I thought I’d just record a Christmas album to bring a bit of cheer to my family and friends, never expecting the response I got, so this year it felt right to carry on the tradition of old favourites and some more unknown Christmas songs people may not have heard before.

Do you have any stand-out highlights from your time in Union J?

Oh gosh, so many. I think going back on The X Factor to perform as an established act and going to number one off the back of that performance is probably the stand-out.

Where does your love of acting and performing come from and is it something you always wanted to do?

I always said it’s a matter of when, not if. Acting and performing is in my blood, it’s who I am. I never gave myself any other options, so thankfully things worked out because I genuinely wouldn’t know how to do anything else.

CINDERELLA starts 14th December and runs until 2nd January at Marina Theatre in Lowestoft.

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