Fresh out of RADA, Dunstable actor Craig Fletcher is stepping into the limelight this month to take the lead in Watford Palace Theatre’s pantomime show Aladdin. The Palace has a long-standing reputation for catching newcomers when they’re hale and hearty and bursting with enthusiasm and Craig certainly fits the bill.

Graduating only this summer, Craig’s previous performances include Mike in A Lie of the Mind, Claudio in Jonathan Miller’s Measure for Measure, Hamlet in Battlement (a Hamlet adaptation), Oswold in Ghosts and Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet.

Born in Luton at Dunstable Hospital, Craig joined Dunstable Stagecoach and studied at Mounthead School and Tring Park School where he had vocational training in acting, singing and dance alongside his National Curriculum subjects.

He applied for several drama schools and was fortunate to get a place at RADA.

“The competition was fierce,” admits Craig. “For the first round audition I thought I’d go in there and give it a good shot and I chose characters I’d really love to play in the future. I was really being myself in that audition room. Afterwards they said they didn’t like one of the pieces and I thought I’d blown it.”

Craig went on to complete four rounds of auditions within two weeks working on modern and classical pieces for each one, so he’s used to working at the breakneck pace required for a panto show.

“Flowing from music to acting to dance as part of the same scene is really exhilerating. It’s a technique I learned from doing Hamlet as a Theatre in Education show at RADA. You have to be quick. The pace of comedy, exits and entrances have to be fast; if it’s boring for children they’re not going to hide it.”

So does Craig believe Aladdin is the ultimate panto hero?

“For me he’s a mischevous young man who reminds me of young men today. He doesn’t want to do the norm, he wants to find his thing. He’s trapped in a formal world where you do what people say but he follows his gut and his heart. He’s an inspiring character and when he and Jasmine meet they inspire each other.”

So what would be Craig’s ideal role in the future?

“I’d love to play Amadeus – I used a scene from the play to get into RADA. Knowing how people have played that part and about the man himself, it would be my dream part.”

Like Aladdin, hopefully Craig’s dreams will come true – now where did I put that lamp...

Aladdin is at Watford Palace Theatre, Clarendon Road, Watford until January 1. Details: 01923 225671 www.watfordtheatre.co.uk