SHE was the cloakroom girl at the Cavern Club who went on to become one of the nation’s biggest stars.

Now Cilla Black’s journey to fame is the focus of a new musical. And Kara Lily Hayworth, who plays Cilla, has had her own eventful road to success too.

Kara was one of thousands of hopefuls who attended open auditions held around the UK for the lead role in Cilla the Musical.

“I auditioned in London initially, then I got to the final four,” says Kara. “They auditioned us at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, it felt such an honour performing there, knowing that Cilla had been a Cavern act when she was starting out.

“I was thrilled to get the part, it’s a dream role.”

Kara plays Cilla from being a teenage Liverpool lass with a big dreams to an accomplished singing star on the cusp of TV stardom.

The show follows the timespan of the acclaimed ITV drama Cilla, which starred Sheridan Smith in the title role. Written by Bafta-winning Jeff Pope, who penned the TV series, it follows Priscilla White’s journey from downtown club singer to being introduced by a young John Lennon to music mogul Brian Epstein, played by Andrew Lancel.

It’s a life-changing moment. By the age of 25, she would be known as singer and TV Star Cilla Black, Number 1-selling artist and queen of the British pop music scene.

“I only knew Cilla from watching TV shows like Blind Date when I was a kid. I didn’t know much about her early life as a singer,” says Kara. “She was quite a trailblazer in what was a man’s world at the time. And she became a huge TV star, a household name.

“Hers is a beautiful story, it’s not just a show for Cilla fans. We’re getting great responses from audiences.”

The show focuses on Cilla’s relationship with the man who became her beloved husband, Bobby. “I think because he became her manager, people forget that he had a singing career of his own to start with. He stepped aside to let Cilla follow her dream,” says Kara. “Bobby was her life; he was by her side the whole time. Their relationship wasn’t perfect - they had rows, she was feisty. But they were devoted to each other.”

Kara, who once competed on Britain’s Got Talent with her band, Zyrah Rose, is relishing the Cilla musical’s lively 60s score which includes the hits Anyone Who Had a Heart, Alfie and Something Tells Me, and other 60s classics such as Twist and Shout by the Beatles and California Dreamin’ by Mamas and The Papas.

“The songs drive the narrative,” says Kara. Does she have a favourite Cilla song? “Anyone Who Had a Heart is a big moment at the end of Act Two, it always gets the audience going. And Alfie is a joy to sing too.

“I’ve watched tons of footage of Cilla and of course her voice is so distinctive, but I’m not doing an impression of her. Cilla’s son, Robert, is a producer of the show and he didn’t want a copycat interpretation. I try to capture her spirit.

“When I got the part Robert gave me her autobiography, it’s a great read.”

And how’s the Liverpool accent going for the girl from Buckinghamshire?

“I love doing accents, it’s going fine,” she says. “There are several cast members who are real Scousers, they’d soon tell me if I was doing it wrong! “

l Cilla the Musical runs at the Alhambra from Tuesday to Saturday. For tickets call (01274) 432000.