Former EastEnders heart throb is to lead the cast of this year’s magical pantomime adventure – Aladdin.

Michael Greco, known for playing Albert Square’s bad boy Beppe di Marco, will play the evil Abanazar at the Assembly Hall Theatre in December.

A graduate of The Guildford School of Acting, he  has worked extensively in theatre including leads in in Chicago (Adelphi Theatre), Exposure (St. James Theatre), William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing (Southwark Playhouse), Kiss Me Kate (National Tour), About Alice (National Tour) and Don Juan at the Battersea Arts Centre.

Since leaving EastEnders, he has featured in ITV’s reality shows Celebrity Love Island and Soap star Superstar, ITV’s crime drama Chasing Shadows and BBC’s Love Hurts before starring alongside Kevin Costner in the TV series Hatfields & McCoys.  He recently joined the cast of BBC soap’s  medical drama Casualty as policeman Phil Paterson.

Lead produced by UK Productions, one of the county’s biggest pantomime producers, Aladdin follows in the footsteps of last year’s hugely successful production Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Michael Greco says:  “I love entertaining people especially at Christmas time, and being the pantomime villain. Can’t wait to get booed and hissed at.”

Aladdin will run at the Assembly Hall Theatre from Friday 8 December 2017 until 3 January 2018.  Tickets from just £10 can be booked on 01892 530613/ 532072 or from www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk.