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If it is your idea of heaven, Never Forget might just be the perfect pop theatre night out. The show tells the fictional story of a Take That tribute band and includes songs such as Relight My Fire, Pray, Back for Good and Babe.

"I play Jake in the show, who loosely represents Robbie Williams – in the loosest terms, as you’ll know if you’ve seen the photos!

"My best mate, Ash, is the Gary Barlow figure, and we join a Take That tribute act in an effort to save his mum’s pub. Not to give too much away, we audition, get in and, well, you can imagine what happens.

"There’s lots of comedy involved and there’s ups and downs, but it is a musical, so it all comes good in the end."

Everything changes

He may play the Robbie character in the tribute act, but Craige is quick to point out that they’re not actually basing their roles on the actual members of Take That, though there are some similarities.

"We’re not mimicking them, but there are elements. My character, Jake, is a cheeky chappy and a ladies man, so there’s the Robbie element. Ash is more earnest and down-to-earth, so he’s the Gary, and of course, there’s a little cute one, who’s Mark! So they’re all there."

Could it be magic?

Being able to sing Gary Barlow’s songs isn’t exactly a dream come true for Craige, but he does say that, like everyone else who grew up with the songs, he is a fan and could already sing along, even before he was cast.

And he really does mean crazy. The show has already been to Cardiff and Glasgow, where Craige says they received “a wall of screams” after every number. Yet he expects that that will be nothing compared to performing in Take That’s home town.

"I can’t wait. Take That are Manchester’s very own and I think people will go crazy. It’s like we’re bringing the music home, and that’s a privilege really.

"It’s not only that I’ve been part of a brand new show and to create the role, being involved with something from grass roots, but to have Take That’s music and bring it to Manchester, that’s going to be a thrill and a huge honour."

Love ain’t here anymore?

Sadly, it’s unlikely that Gary, Mark, Jason or Howard will be amongst those witnessing this kind of homecoming.

"There’s all sorts of rumours flying around, but we leave all that to the producers. We’re just hoping that they do support it. At the end of the day, it’s a celebration of their music. It’s not in competition with their new stuff.

"We’re all admirers and supporters of them. I mean, they’ve given us a job, haven’t they? So they’ll be invited and I hope that they come along, because it’d be great for them to come and see what we’ve done with their music."

Who knows? If they show enough patience, they might just get a Thatter sneak in at the back. Until then, all they can do is make sure that they shine.

Never Forget is at the Opera Theatre from Tuesday 21 August to Saturday 1 September. Tickets start at £12.50