Jaymi’s only regret is the loincloth
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Tue-Sat
Jaymi Hensley was in the perfect place to gain some firsthand advice when he landed the role of Joseph. The former X Factor contestant and Union J member is playing the title character in the latest touring production of Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice’s musical juggernaut.
He was in panto in Birmingham when he learned he had successfully auditioned and his co-stars were able to offer some advice.
“Jimmy Osmond and Darren Day were in Peter Pan with me and both have played Joseph in their careers, so they each gave me a lot of information about the character,” Jaymi explained.
“I hadn’t seen the show in the theatre but I knew the music, of course.
“A lot of big names have played the role, so I think it helped I hadn’t seen it, because I didn’t have any preconceived ideas.”
The 28-year-old has been part of Union J since 2011, and the boy band
auditioned for The X Factor soon after. They finished fourth and won a contract with Sony, and became one of the longest-running groups to have appeared on the show.
They decided to take a hiatus at the end of last year, allowing Jaymi to take opportunities such as Joseph.
“We decided to have a year out and I think if we hadn’t decided to take a rest, animosity would have set in,” he continued.“I was at that place where I wanted to try something different.
“I’d been offered a few things before that I couldn’t commit to, and didn’t want to have any regrets when I looked back.
“Luckily, the phone rang straightaway, and now a lot of opportunities and doors have opened thanks to Joseph.”
That first phone call was an invitation to audition for Joseph.
“I came in quite late in the process
– I think they were struggling to find someone. I was busy on another job, so I had to find a half hour to meet all the team and they had to make a decision
based on one song I performed. From there, it was straight down to London the following week to get started.
“This is my first full-scale musical, my first year-long contract, and it took a little time to get into the style, because there is no other show like it. We’ve been going for six months now, 12 shows a week, travelling all over, so I’ve had to learn to look after myself a lot more.
“When there were four of us in the band, others could pull up the slack if you felt under the weather, but that’s not something you can do here.
“I’m trying to get as much sleep as possible and eating well, getting into a routine. I’m not getting any younger, so I can’t burn the candle at both ends.
“I can’t function on no sleep and it affects the voice as well, so it’s about getting as much rest as I can. In six months together, we’ve only had one night out.”
As he looks forward to hopefully mixing music with theatre and TV acting work going forward, there is only one thing about Joseph he could do without.
“Probably my least favourite part is wearing the loincloth,” he smiled.
“I really could do without that –
I’m not a fan.”