Arriving at Hampden stadium on the morning of Saturday 9^th January,  later than planned due to hideous road conditions, I joined the back of the (thankfully rather short and indoors) queue.

I’d dragged my dad along for moral support. Well, really he had volunteered because he didn’t trust me to drive in that weather. I don’t blame him.

Looking at the queue we saw girls of various shapes and sizes; all hoping they’d be chosen as Dorothy in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of the classic story The Wizard of Oz.

Red shoes and pigtails seemed to be what the girls had interpreted from the email invitation which said “dress to impress” Me? I went all out with jeans, a top and boots.

Considering it was my first audition in six years and for a televised talent search, I was strangely calm.

Whilst in the queue I was handed lyrics to Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Simple enough. Then, We’re Off to See the Wizard…oh dear! “We hear he is a whiz of a wiz if ever a wiz there was”. A tongue twister – just what I needed when trying to impress.

Chatting with my dad, our conversation would be rudely interrupted every so often by a hideous screeching sound. It took us a minute to realise it was coming from the girl in front of us. Seemingly she was warming up her vocal chords.

Ahhh, I’d forgotten how seriously some people took themselves at this kind of audition.

As the screeching continued – as did chuckles from my father and I – the queue moved at a snail’s pace. However, when I’d managed to reach the third or fourth stair towards the audition rooms, a voice called “Hello girls!”

Expecting to see a crew member, I slowly turned round and gasped. It was the man himself…Lord Lloyd Webber.

Yes, unlike Simon Cowell (note the lack of knighthood), Lord  Lloyd Webber actually showed up at the first round of auditions. He did have casting directors to weed out the really bad contestants in the first round of auditions and spent the day doing press duties but regardless he was around Hampden all day and kindly wished us luck prior to the auditions.

As he was speaking I noticed cameras filming from all angles. Where did they come from? The initial shock of seeing the cameras soon wore off as, as for the rest of the day I felt like a minor celebrity on a press charm-offensive.

“This is STV, they’re going to just have a little chat and take a few shots of what’s going on” and “This is the BBC, the same thing will happen as STV” then “If you wouldn’t mind going outside there’s a photo-call pitchside with Andrew”.  Not to mention the numerous in-depth interviews with the actual Over the Rainbow BBC crew.

They even interviewed my dad in the holding room – he was not a happy chappy he said, but I know that secretly he loved it.

The worst part of the day was the waiting around. Yes, you know that it is inevitable at auditions, but – ever the pessimist – I’d only brought a bottle of water with me expecting to go in and be kicked out with 30 seconds of my first audition. The time it took to get my first audition over with was approximately three and a half hours. My stomach began to rumble.

Before the audition Lloyd Webber made another visit and told us all to gather round. Being the attention-seeker that I am, I stood closest to him because I knew when the cameras were filming him I’d be in shot too.

He gave us a lovely pep talk but told us how he wanted an Avril Lavigne style Dorothy. It wasn’t what I was expecting but if that’s what the man wants, that’s what he’ll get.

First audition was in front of two casting directors and a video camera, as I expected. I had to sing a verse and chorus from two songs of my own choosing and sing a bit of Somewhere Over the Rainbow from whichever line they chose for me.

When that was done there was more waiting until the group of six had all been seen, then we got called back in to learn our fates. The casting directors were generally lovely but did the horrible thing where they start with negatives then eventually tell you that you’ve made it through to the next round. Swines.

I was extremely relieved and shocked, then the hunger pangs started again and I realised that I was going to be hanging around for another while yet.

I met up with my dad in the holding room to tell him the good news. He’d got chatting to other parents who were around and found the whole process rather amusing. This allowed my guilt about him hanging around for hours to lessen a bit.

Round two of the auditions saw us perform in front of esteemed West End casting director David Grindrod who had previously been responsible for casting over fifty musical theatre productions. There was also the threat that  Lloyd Webber may appear to hear us sing at any moment. Eeek!

As the group I was in were auditioned one by one, the horror stories began about how tough David was: “he made me push him around the room to show I had attitude” “he told me my breathing and posture were terrible!”

Then it was my turn (with the BBC crew filming me entering the room and another crew inside) and, bearing in mind how they wanted an Avril Lavigne, I changed one of my songs. Rock chick Adelle is here to sing you some…country! Not exactly Avril but the song was upbeat and portrayed the message that Dorothy would have liked to about getting out of town for a bit. Well that’s what I told myself anyway.

David smiled throughout and gave me very positive feedback after the audition. Then it was another waiting game to find out my fate yet again.

This is where my dream of running around stage in a gingham dress with funky red shoes and a cute wee puppy were shattered.

Sadly I was told I was going no further but was given yet more positive feedback which I took to heart rather than the rejection because I think for my first audition in six years I did pretty well.

Not only did I gain experience of auditions, some of the footage shot was shown on television and I was even referred to by name!

A star is born…