This festive season, James Mackenzie will be playing Abanazar in Aladdin at The Anvil in Basingstoke from Thursday 11th December until Sunday 4th January 2026, having played the character last year at Mansfield Palace Theatre, and James is working alongside Kian Zomorodian (Aladdin), Chris Pizzey (Wishee Washee) and Nic Gibney (Widow Twankey). Most recently on stage, James was playing the evil butler in Halloween Spooktacular at the Hippodrome Great Yarmouth, and he has previously worked on the stage shows The Ghosting of Rabbie Burns and Sunshine on Leith. With CBeebies, James has been regularly involved with their pantomimes and Shakespeare productions at Shakespeare’s Globe, and across all five series of Molly and Mack, James was in the cast as the father of Mimi Robertson and Joshua Haynes, who played the titular characters. Since 2002, James hosted the hugely-popular CBBC game show Raven for a number of years, and returned for the Raven reboot in 2017 as Raven of Old, and he filmed for episodes of CBBC show Dani’s House as Zorlock. Further screen roles for James include playing Rory Campbell in last year’s Hallmark film A Scottish Love Scheme, and in 2015, he joined the BBC One Scotland soap opera River City as Gary Trenton, where he stayed for a couple of years. We caught up with James about playing Abanazar in the upcoming pantomime Aladdin at The Anvil in Basingstoke, hosting Raven on CBBC and his time in the BBC One Scotland soap opera River City.

What are you looking forward to for performing in this year’s Aladdin pantomime at The Anvil in Basingstoke, which opens on Thursday 11th December?

I’m really looking forward to getting to know the Hampshire audiences and wringing as many “boos” as possible out of them!

You will be starring as Abanazar; how does it feel to be reprising the character (having played the role last year at Mansfield Palace Theatre) and what do you enjoy most about playing the pantomime villain?

It’ll be really fun to see where my Abanazar fits with a whole new bunch of performers, that’s the joy of this job. The best thing about being the baddie is the lengths you can go to wind the audience up and still get away with it!! It’s the best fun ever!

What can audiences expect from your portrayal of Abanazar and how are you preparing for this year’s run at The Anvil?

A very evil and nasty Abanazar who hates children and loves the “boos”! He’s also very dashing and wears his baddie boots with pride! I’ve recently played an evil butler in a Halloween Spooktacular show at the Hippodrome Great Yarmouth, so I’ve been warming up my ‘evil laugh’!

The cast also includes Kian Zomorodian as Aladdin, Chris Pizzey as Wishee Washee and Nic Gibney as Widow Twankey; have you worked with any of them previously and what do you think it will be like performing alongside them this Christmas?

I haven’t performed with any of them yet, we only met on press day, but I can’t wait to have a total scream with them. They are all lovely and I think they’ll be trouble. In a good way 😜

How do you find the experience interacting with the audience and seeing families getting involved?

Like I say, it’s the best part. So much of my job is interacting with the audiences, so it’s perfect when they join in and collectively ‘hate’ me together! Makes my job easier.

Why would you recommend booking tickets to see Aladdin at The Anvil this festive season?

Definitely book tickets ASAP as they’re going to fly out the door! Plus you’ll see a top-notch cast giving their all, having fun to bring you an all-singing, all-dancing, hilarious festive extravaganza!

You are also a regular performer in the CBeebies Pantos and have also performed with CBeebies at Shakespeare’s Globe in their productions of various Shakespeare plays, what are these like to be part of?

As a parent, it’s an absolute dream and privilege to be part of the CBeebies Pantos. They’re so special, and it means even more when I know my kids have grown up watching me in them.

As for CBeebies at the Globe, that was a dream and a total honour as an actor. Once in a lifetime opportunity that I adored.

In the CBeebies series Molly and Mack, you played James across all five series, how was it filming alongside Mimi Robertson and Joshua Haynes as their on-screen father, and did you have any favourite episodes to work on?

I loved my time with Molly and Mack. Another very special wee show that really connected with little ones and parents alike. It was lovely being Josh and Mimi’s dad, really easy as they were so gorgeous. Funnily enough, Josh grew up watching me on Raven, and always said that when he grew up he’d be an actor and that one day, I’d play his dad! Funny how things work out.

Precious Time is one of my favourite episodes as it focuses on the relationship between the kids and their dad and the loss of their mum.

What are some of your favourite memories from your time hosting the CBBC game show Raven and how was it seeing the fan response to the show?

My favourite time was all of it, I was incredibly lucky and privileged to be part of Raven, it’s a massive part of my life and something I will always be proud and grateful for. My favourite time was that spent in India filming Raven: The Secret Temple. That was an unforgettable experience for 10 weeks. It was also humbling being part of Raven for so long and to see the fan following it had and still has, and its now cult status!

What was it like returning for the Raven reboot in 2017 and playing the renamed character – Raven of Old?

Great fun. I was just glad the leather trousers still fitted after eight years!!

How was your time filming as Zorlock in episodes of Dani’s House?

Again, great fun, dressed as a big green alien with suckers for fingers. What’s not to love??!! Plus, Dani Harmer was a delight.

Away from children’s TV, you were seen in last year’s Hallmark film A Scottish Love Scheme as Rory Campbell, can you tell us about this?

It was lovely to do an American film, especially one set in Scotland. I knew a lot of the film crew from Molly and Mack, plus my brother in the film was played by one of my best friends Jordan Young, so it was a great laugh. Plus, meeting Erika Durance was a delight. She was so kind and just fantastic on screen. I remember her from my teenage years in Smallville!

What was it like joining the cast of the BBC One Scotland soap opera River City in 2015 and what was Gary Trenton like to play?

I had a great time in River City. It was full of friends and colleagues, which made it a very supportive environment. This is so helpful when you’re doing a soap as the workload is very full on and the schedule goes at 100mph. It was a great to keep learning and challenge myself.

On stage, you have been involved with many productions including The Ghosting of Rabbie Burns and Sunshine on Leith, can you say about some of your stand-out theatre highlights?

Sunshine on Leith was a hoot, and Billy Boyd was a joy. Just so much fun belting out Proclaimers classics. Theatre highlight for me would be playing Macbeth. That’s a bucket list item for an actor!

Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get started in the industry?

I started in the industry through youth theatre and progressed from there really. Got some auditions and eventually an agent, plus three years at drama school. But my love of the business came from my dad. He’s an actor of 60 years plus. So, it’s his fault!

Do you have any favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch?

I’m currently loving Slow Horses. But you can’t beat a bit of After Life with Ricky Gervais, or The Lord of the Rings. My taste is quite broad really. Love a bit of everything.

How do you like to spend your free time?

With my wife and kids in the outdoors, walking our dogs and having adventures in nature. The best place to reset and recharge.

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