Charming and courageous - an interview with Aladdin from Disney's Aladdin

What attracted you to the show?

I grew up watching Aladdin alongside a lot of other Disney movies. Aladdin especially stuck with me because of how relatable it was. So doing the show is such a good opportunity that I just couldn’t say no. I mean, who wouldn’t want to jump at the opportunity of being a Disney Prince?

Does it pose any challenges for you?

It’s my first professional production, let alone my first professional production in a lead role. I didn’t expect to be on stage as much as I am because I’d never actually seen the show before and physically and vocally it’s quite challenging because it’s so intense. There’s also a lot of dancing involved and prior to my training at the Royal Academy of Music I’d never done dance before, especially not tap dancing. There’s been a lot for me to learn and I’m still learning. I’m always growing and it’s been a really amazing learning experience for me because there’s so much that I’ve not done before. The team have been so nurturing and I’m very grateful for that.

Can you recall when you first saw Aladdin and what effect did it have on you?

I think I was about six or seven years old when I first saw the Disney film and I was completely entranced by the story and the magic of it all. It was just such a cool story, then when I found out that it had been made into a theatre production I listened to the music and I was like ‘I have to be a part of it’.

What lead you into a show-business career?

I started playing violin at a very young age, when I was about seven or eight years old, and that’s where I began my musical journey. I started playing more string instruments, like guitar and bass, and then when I was about 15 I started singing. As I was graduating from school I was teetering between going to medical school or going into music, because I loved both of those things. Eventually I went to the Royal Northern College of Music to study pop singing for four years, was in an amateur production of We Will Rock You, and it just went from there that I’m looking forward to exploring for the first time.

You performed with Take That at Manchester Arena. How was that experience?

I was a backing singer/backup dancer. I was part of a choir and it was a very surreal experience because Lulu was also there for Relight My Fire. She came into our warm-up room and we were singing in a circle around her. Then we sang Happy Birthday for Howard Donald, which was another surreal experience, and I also got to meet Rick Astley in the loo. I thought he was a sound guy because he was dressed in all black but when I later realised who he was I didn’t tell him that.

This is your first professional job since you graduated earlier this year. It must be hugely exciting?

I’m going through every emotion under the sun. I’m so excited but also very nervous at the same time because it’s such a big, iconic role to undertake. I’m so blessed to have this opportunity and a lot of it is thanks to my amazing support network, my family, my friends, mentors, teachers, the casting team… the list goes on and on.

This is also your first UK tour. What are you most looking forward to about taking Aladdin around the country?

I’ll get to explore all these different UK towns and cities that I’ve never been to before. I’ve been to some of the stops on the tour like Dublin, where I’ve done some recording work, and Manchester, where I studied. I also lived in Edinburgh with my sister for a few months during my gap year but there are so many places that I’m looking forward to exploring for the first time.