Danny Hatchard is making his pantomime debut playing Prince Charming in Cinderella at Norwich Theatre Royal, with the show running from Saturday 6th December until Sunday 4th January, and Danny is working with a cast including Georgia May Foote (Cinderella), Joe Tracini (Buttons and also the writer), Jeevan Braich (Dandini) and Hannah Jane Fox (Fairy Godmother). In the 2023/24 UK Tour of The Full Monty, Danny starred as Gaz, and in 2017, he was nominated for an Off West End Theatre Award (Offie) for Best Actor in a Play for his portrayal of Aaron in Eyes Closed, Ears Covered at the Bunker Theatre. Previous stage projects for Danny include playing Jack/Noah in Oliver Twist at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Tom Jenkins in Scrooge the Musical at Leicester Curve. As a screen actor, Danny is probably best-known for playing Lee Carter in EastEnders – the son of Mick and Linda Carter (played by Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright) – over a number of years from 2014, and he reprised his role for a stint in 2019/20 and returned for a one-off episode last year. This year, Danny played Jovan Smith in Series 4 of The Madame Blanc Mysteries, and he has appeared in the BBC series Ridley Road as Lee, and it has been announced that he will be a cast member in the upcoming series of The Chelsea Detective and the BBC series The Dream Lands. We spoke to Danny about his upcoming role of Prince Charming in Cinderella at Norwich Theatre Royal for his pantomime debut, his stage roles including The Full Monty and Eyes Closed, Ears Covered and playing Lee Carter in EastEnders.

What are you looking forward to for playing Prince Charming in Cinderella this Christmas at Norwich Theatre Royal and have you played the character previously?

This is actually my first pantomime, so I’m buzzing to get started. I’ve always been a huge lover of the festive season and what a way to celebrate it!

What will you bring to the role of Prince Charming and how are you preparing for this year’s run?

I’ll be sprinkling a bit of Danny H spirit all over Mr Charming. Think charming seasoned with cheek and added sauce for good measure. Vocally I’ve been prepping a little. Two shows every day requires some stamina!

What do you think it will be like performing alongside Georgia May Foote (Cinderella), Joe Tracini (Buttons), Jeevan Braich (Dandini) and Hannah Jane Fox (Fairy Godmother)?

Brilliant! I have huge respect and admiration for all three. Hannah Jane Fox is a legend, I remember her from her Scaramouche days in We Will Rock You back when it opened in 2002!

How has it been reading Joe Tracini’s script for the first time and what is the story like to tell?

Joe’s writing chops are 10/10! So I feel very lucky to be involved. Joe’s passion for comedy and authenticity really shines through his writing, and this script is no different.

How do you think it will be interacting with the family audience?

Bags of fun. This is what it’s all about. Panto has always been about bringing the community together during the festive season. And I know from experience just how wonderful the Norwich audience are!

Why would you recommend booking tickets to Norwich Theatre Royal’s pantomime of Cinderella, which is booking from Friday 6th December until Sunday 4th January 2026?

If you want two hours of pure joy, laughter and plenty of heart to boot, there’s no better place to be! If you don’t come back for seconds, I’ll be very surprised.

In the 2023/24 UK Tour of The Full Monty, you starred as Gaz, was there anything that drew you to the character and what was he like to play?

Being a working class bloke myself, I always gravitate towards authentic working class stories, and The Full Monty is the epitome  of that. Simon Beaufoy’s writing is the best of the best, so it was easy to love Gaz. His love for his son reminded me a lot of my relationship with my dad. So living in that space felt natural.

What did you enjoy most about touring with The Full Monty and how was it being part of the cast?

Everything. I can honestly say, that production was something special. As a cast we loved and respected each other so much, and that chemistry really translated on stage.

What was it like taking on the role of Aaron in Eyes Closed, Ears Covered at the Bunker Theatre in 2017 and being nominated for Best Actor in a Play at The Off West End Theatre Awards (Offies)?

Exhausting! But incredibly rewarding. Aaron was the extreme alter ego of Seb who suffered with extreme anxiety, so it was kind of like running half a marathon eight shows a week mentally and physically. But the show brought a lot of awareness around Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Theatre isn’t just a place for escape and entertainment, it’s also the best place to be educated.

Can you tell us about performing in Oliver Twist at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre as Jack/Noah and Scrooge the Musical at Leicester Curve as Tom Jenkins?

That year I was very much in my Dickensian feels. Bringing two classics to life at two incredible venues. What’s not to love!

Earlier this year, you played Jovan Smith in an episode of The Madame Blanc Mysteries – Series 4, how was it playing a guest character in the show?

Great fun! And who doesn’t love a free holiday. Jovan didn’t have the best luck, bless him.

How was it filming for the BBC One series Ridley Road as Lee and Series 4 of Our Girl as Pvt. Rhett ‘Cheese’ Charlton?

Both shows led by an incredible creative team, and the cast were chef’s kiss! As an actor, you can only hope these gigs keep coming along.

Do you remember how you felt finding out you’d be joining the cast of EastEnders as Lee Carter (son of Mick and Linda Carter, played by Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright) in 2014 and what are some of your favourite memories from filming as Lee over the years?

I had one of the most bonkers 24 hours of my life before finding out I got EastEnders. I’ll have to share it one day, but now’s not the time. The moment my agent called I was eating breakfast with my dad in a café in Ilford having not slept a wink the previous night. He asked me how I felt about spending some time on Albert Square, it was a beautiful moment.

Every day was my favourite. I love that show with all my heart, and long may it be successful!

What was it like reprising the role for a stint in 2019/20 and returning to the show again last year for a one-off episode, and how did you find the experience working as a regular character in a hugely-popular soap opera?

Being a part of EastEnders is a huge honour. It’s been staple viewing for millions of working class households for 40 years, so returning is always an easy decision, it’s like going back home.

How did you get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?

I wanted to be an actor for as long as I can remember. Frustratingly, the arts wasn’t very accessible to me growing up, so I had to wait until I was old enough to work before I could afford to go to classes, pay for plays and trips to the theatre, it was and still is an obsession. I love it.

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

God, I wouldn’t know where to start. First films that come to mind are Dead Poets Society, Good Will Hunting, The Pianist, Nine Days, Captain Fantastic. Theatre-wise, Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem and Journey’s End by R. C. Sherriff are two plays that particularly blew me away.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Travelling, reading, writing, a trip to the pictures, spending time with loved ones.

We understand you are part of the upcoming series of The Chelsea Detective and the BBC series The Dream Lands, is there anything you can tell us about these projects and what are you hoping 2026 brings for you?

Both projects are very different. Excellent cast and creative team. Well worth keeping an eye on.

I have another project coming up early next year which I’m very excited about, so stay tuned!

As for the rest of 2026, the plan is simple: keep building.

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