Take That were my teenage crush, and to meet Gary Barlow in the flesh is the ultimate dream of my 13-year-old (and adult) self. This is serious stuff, though, and I try to compose myself.

First up, Barlow reveals how he never wanted to join the theatre world “because I’d heard [musicals] were incredibly hard work”, he jokes. However, he says once he’d started, he quickly became “addicted”. “I fell in love with the story and the people involved,” he explains.

There are some big-name stars taking the lead roles of Finding Neverland, including Glee actor Matthew Morrison, who plays JM Barrie, Frasier’s Kelsey Grammar (Charles Frohman) and West End star Laura Michelle Kelly (Sylvia Llewelyn Davis).

“I feel so lucky to be working with such an elite bunch of people,” Barlow says. “Matthew Morrison has that pop sensibility I’ve always wanted, Kelsey Grammar turned up and took it to another level, and Laura Michelle Kelly is a real star. I saw her playing Mary Poppins in London four times.”

And while Barlow harbours a desire to play Jean Valjean from Les Miserables - “The trouble is I’m not tall enough,” he quips - he’s relishing the chance to carve out his own piece of theatrical history: “Peter Pan has been a part of everybody’s life at some point or another. Peter Pan could only come from the life that JM Barrie had, which inspired him to write such a creative, incredible story that has lasted more than a century later.”

Influential friendship

Barlow’s involvement in the project was down to his friendship with actor James Corden. He reveals how Corden was working on a film with the producer Harvey Weinstein, who shared his plans to turn Finding Neverland into a musical.

Weinstein had had Andrew Lloyd Webber in mind for the music, but Corden convinced him otherwise. It also worked in Barlow’s favour that Weinstein’s wife was a Take That fan, which he says effectively sealed the deal.

But although he is clearly a dab hand at writing a pop tune, how easy did Barlow find it to write a musical score?

“The thing I have taken away from this is learning the art of continuing a storyline through a song,” he explains. “A pop song tends to be a static subject, but a song in a musical has to move the story on from the start of the song to the end of it.”

He was also determined to do things his own way: “I came to the project with my own angle. I wanted people to hear my music, not my imitation of somebody else who writes musicals.”

When he plays us one of his favourite songs from the musical, the uplifting ballad “When your feet don’t touch the ground”, there’s a distinct Barlow feel to it, and it’s easy to imagine it captivating the audience, as they witness a touching exchange between JM Barrie and the child Peter.

“The little boy tells JM Barrie: ‘You’re a man, acting like a boy,’ and JM Barrie says to Peter: ‘You’re a boy, acting like a man.’ It’s an important scene,” he adds.

With final rehearsals under way and an album - featuring Rita Ora, Jon Bon Jovi and Paloma Faith, among others - ready to be released, Barlow admits he’s incredibly excited, if a little anxious, about the opening: “I think I will be nervous, but I’m also confident we have something really good.”

And he’s committed to the project for the long term, banking on success in New York to drive the musical elsewhere: “I always want to be there for casting and to make sure the right people are performing the right parts,” he says.

Having spent a large chunk of time in New York working with the vocalists, Barlow admits a deep love for the United States and the Big Apple - particularly in regard to its culinary offering.

“Of all the places I’ve ever travelled to, New York has the best food in the world.

“You can be extremely ‘bad’ and have amazing food - burgers and so on - and then also be really healthy because there are juice bars on every corner. The pizzas are definitely the best in the world,” he adds.

High street man

Of course, no TTG interview would be complete without quizzing Barlow about whether he uses a travel agent. His answer is likely to please the trade: “I just get t’internet on and have a look there. But, of course, I also use an agent - a high street travel agent.”

He refuses to be pushed on names, stating only: “The one we use is in London, but they are nationwide - I can’t say which one, though.

“Travel is extremely important and preparation is key. I do so much travelling, it has to be organised to the minute - it has to be perfect.”

With his business travel so regimented, when Barlow takes off on his own holidays, he says it’s the open road that appeals: “I think everyone should do that stretch of coast from New York to Boston. We love driving around there. Maine is beautiful and the Appalachian mountains are just stunning. Get the kids in the car and just drive, stopping where you fancy - it’s perfect.”

However, while there’s clearly potential for a travel agent to book Barlow’s next fly-drive, I would suggest they never mention Butlins or, er, ladybirds. He reveals with a wry smile how his childhood holidays in Skegness left him with some interesting memories, particularly the summer when there was a ladybird infestation: “It was terrifying - the whole pool was covered with them,” he recalls.

Unfortunately, we are nearing the end of our all too brief interview slot and Barlow’s people want me to wrap things up. But he is keen to keep chatting, revealing how much he’s enjoyed responding to questions about travel, in lieu of the usual focus on his music (we also evidently have great chemistry).

“When I go out for dinner with people, it’s usually one of the first things I talk about,” he smiles. “Travel, cities, where have you been, restaurants, hotels? So you would be the perfect dinner date, wouldn’t you?” he adds, “full of stories and tips.”

We’re rushed out of the room before I can respond. But if you’re reading, Gary, I’m free next Friday!