Paul Byrom began having his voice classically trained at the age of just seven, at 12 he got his first lead role in an opera at the National Concert Hall and by 14, the boy soprano had released his first album.

That was 24 years ago (we’ll let you do the maths) and the man now known as Ireland’s premier young tenor has since toured the world over, performed in musical theatre, released numerous albums, been an original soloist in Celtic Thunder and sang for dignitaries such as President Obama.

The Dubliner’s career has encompassed many different musical and performance elements, but there is one thing Paul hasn’t ticked off his bucket list, performing in a panto. That’s all about to change this week as Paul prepares to play Gaston in his very first panto, Beauty and the Beast, taking place at the Helix.

“I’ve always wanted to do at least one panto in my life. I’ve gotten to the age where I’m too old to be the handsome prince and also probably not good-looking enough either, but that is neither here nor there.

“So then when there was a chance to play, probably the best baddie of all the baddies, Gaston. I thought, you know what, I’ve got to grab it. He’s brilliant, totally hilarious, obnoxious and funny in many respects – some say I won’t have to do any acting, but I’m definitely loving it,” jokes Paul.

New York

Having lived in New York for a spell with his wife Dominique, the pair returned to Dublin three years ago and Paul still spends a considerable amount of time working across the pond. As well as having a great sense of humour, Paul is quite frank and admits that he has found settling back into Irish life a little bit more challenging than his wife.

“I find Ireland is not the easiest country to come back to after living abroad. Certainly between property prices and the rental market being the way it is, there are a whole load of things that are a bit of a shock to the system, but we are getting there, we are settling in now.

“I think by working in the States regularly I’m being reminded of the life I had, whereas Dom has only been back to the States twice since we’ve returned. That being said, if I moved back tomorrow I would probably be missing home as well. I’m very much a family person and I love being around my friends. The grass is always greener on the other side I suppose.”

The Coulters

Paul and his wife have resided in both Dublin and New York, but it was actually in the Caribbean that they met when Paul performed on a cruise organised by Dominique’s father, Phil Coulter.

She was 22 and he was 28. The two hit it off and, as Paul puts it, “the rest is history”. There wasn’t even much opposition from her father.

“Phil and I had just started working on a production, so we were doing a lot of stuff together. I think his theory, as much as it was mine and Dominique’s, was that once it didn’t come between Phil and I professionally, we would be alright. We worked hard to ensure that was the case. If I came over to the house, we wouldn’t really talk about work or anything.”

Career choices

With the vast majority of his life spent working in the music industry, Paul’s career is celebrated, his accomplishments are many and he is not even 40 yet. Reflecting on his career, Paul says it has been extremely enjoyable and interesting, but he would not like people to think that working in the music industry is fun and games all the time.

“There are always quiet periods and you think to yourself, I wonder will I try something else but, fundamentally, if you are a performer or a singer, it’s in your DNA. It’s not a career choice, it’s who you are.

“I’ve been doing it since I was a kid, I’ve never known anything else and therefore I don’t think I could do anything else. My best friend works in investment banking, he says I would last about a week in an office and I would be fired. So it has to be who you are.” CL

Beauty and the Beast will run at the Helix from 24 November 2017 to 21 January 2018. Tickets are on sale now from www.thehelix.ie and at the Helix Box Office.