I put the thought of my head. There was no use for it now. There was no need for it. I had to stop thinking about all the people who were watching me, I had to stop thinking about the fact I thought I couldn't sing the song well, I had to forget I was unprepared and just DO IT!

We stood in a line and when it was my turn, I stepped forward, took the stage, and forgot where I was. I forgot the fact I was standing on the stage of the Paxton Suites - I was on the stage at Buxton Opera House - I was Yum-Yum and my job was to make each member of the audience look at me and listen to me and clap for me!

I interpreted the song as best I could, and although it was far from a perfect performance, I felt happy. I had done the best I could. They had seen the best performance I could have given in those circumstances, and whether I got the part or not, I was happier that I'd done my best. I had to read script again, but this time I put on a different accent - that way I would sound so welsh! I did my "Cecily Cardew" accent that I'd been using at The Importance of Being Earnest rehearsals and I took a risk; I didn't use the script.

I wanted to show that I could learn things really quickly and show that maybe I knew a little bit more about G&S than I was letting on. I listened to the other girls do their script, and purposely paced mine really slowly. I made her a bit bolshy and comically conceited... I didn't want Yum-yum to be dumb... I didn't know anything about the character, so I didn't have anything to argue with - from the heart my Yum-Yum was going to be clever - MY yum-yum was going to have balls!

They asked for the people who wanted to audition for Pitti-Sing to step forward.

It was the hardest thing for me to have to do - to have to stop myself from moving forward, but I couldn't audition for Pitti-Sing. I couldn't. I didn't know the song, and it was too low for me. It's a mezzo role.

I hated myself for it, but I took two steps back. I couldn't take the risk. There were two people who stepped back - me and another girl... I think her name is Holllie.

I felt like I'd just given them a really good audition not to cast me - they'd think I was a prima-donna who wouldn't be happy with a smaller part. Paul, the producer who'd given me my application form smiled at me. I think I must have looked really scared or really upset or something.

We were all allowed to go for lunch. I say "allowed" - I didn't want to go. I wanted to sit in the Paxton Suite and stare at the stage - just stare into space - I was practically forcing the hour hand round the clock with my eyes.

Anyway, the time went really slowly - as it always does in these situations - and by the time I got back to the Paxton Suites, I was so full of adrenaline that I think if someone breathed on me I would have gone shooting in the air.

Pamela took the front of the stage and announced the cast...

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