Lee Mead Takes To The Stage as Prince Charming in Cinderella

Lee Mead has some on-stage fun
with Welsh rugby legend
Gareth Thomas

Andy Howells meets Lee Mead who plays Prince Charming in Cardiff New Theatre's presentation  of Cinderella.

2014 has been a busy year for Lee Mead, having undertaken a solo music tour, taking on a regular role in Casualty and currently performing as Prince Charming in the New Theatre panto Cinderella throughout the festive season. 

“It’s a right laugh and a special time for the audience,” Lee tells me, “My biggest regret is not doing this sooner. KDOS first approached me to do these seven years ago, I wasn't sure if it was something I’d want to do. The first one I did was Jack and the Beanstalk in Southampton two years ago, then Robin Hood last year in Plymouth and now I’m hooked!” 

Lee, the 2007 winner of the BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do in which he won the coveted role of Joseph in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s revival of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has been busy recording albums and touring in a variety of stage musicals in recent years. He joined the cast of Casualty as a regular early this year.

Recently, Lee completed a series of gigs across the UK in which he performed stripped back renditions of popular musical hits. “I always spend a lot of time making sure that the quality of the show is good,” says Lee. “I get weekends off and that’s the only time to go back to London to see my daughter. I don’t want to be working all week and not see her for a fortnight. I do one show a month. I see her on a Saturday until Sunday do a sound check then go straight to the gig.” 

Andy Howells and Lee Mead  

Lee’s transition from playing gigs to treading the boards was immediate earlier this month when he began rehearsals for Cinderella on completion of the tour. In order to be in Cinderella he is also getting some time off from the wards of Casualty. 

“The past two or three months I've had story-lines which have been shot but they wont be shown until four months from now as its filmed four months in advance,” he says. “It’s really nice as it looks like I’ll be staying on in Casualty for a second year. I'm excited about that as Lofty is a nice role.”

Lee is also enjoying treading the boards as Prince Charming in Cinderella,"It’s a brilliant line up, “ says Lee of the panto, “and with Gareth Thomas involved - he is Wales! I’ll be singing a few songs hopefully; it’s a nice cast and a great story"

“We've got a beautiful theatre as well. I was at The New Theatre, a few years ago in a tour of Joseph and a rock show of Tommy so it’s nice to come back for a longer stint.”

Lee will be releasing a new album and touring once again in the New Year this time featuring performances of songs from MGM musicals, he will also be recommencing work on Casualty. “I like been busy but I also like been back home on a weekend,” he says.

• Cinderella runs until January 19, 2015, to book tickets visit Cardiff New Theatre's website. 
• A version of this interview by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on December 19, 2014.