post
18 Apr 2010
When I Was 9:
I attended the Waterfront Theatre School. I performed in several musicals as a happy member of the chorus and I loved it. I just love the stage. I can’t explain it. Standing on those boards is one of the best feelings in the world. Singing wasn’t really a problem when I was younger. I remember auditioning at 9 for my first musical. It was Scrooge. It was my first audition. I was very scared of the director, Mr Keith Galloway. I decided on the day to audition. I hadn’t really prepared anything. Brilliant.
I was just him and I in the little theatre in the Attic . I stood on stage and sang Jingle Bells. I was nervous though . He could see that. He pottered around moving furniture whilst I sang . I remember thinking that it wasn’t so bad. I got a part .
Now We Are 22:
I have not auditioned fro a musical since Scrooge and I heard they were auditioning for Gigi. I decided to audition at the last minute . . . history really does repeat itself. I picked a piece that was funny, more talking than singing really and prayed I would get through it on my acting ability. I changed my mind several times that night about whether to go or not, but in the end I did.
I arrived and sat in my car. I called Fae to see if she had arrived. I am quite shy . At 22, I wished I was my 9 year old self. She would’ve have just walked in I thought. So I did. You know what? I survived that long walk across the car park and was met by smiling faces. I registered and sat down. Never mind butterflies, I had small elephants playing Twister inside my stomach. My hand shook as I filled in the form. My writing has always been suspect; it was pretty illegible now. Kept reminding myself I was going for a small part in the ensemble, there was no need to be nervous. For future reference this doesn’t really work.
In usual Robyn style, I tried to keep everything light and joke at every possible opportunity in order to ignore the nerves.
A Meeting:
A girl arrived and sat down opposite me. I had seen her before on stage. She is an extremely good singer. We got to talking and she was busy studying at the Waterfront Theatre School. She told me that Mr Galloway was quite ill. It’s strange how people fade in and out of your life. I hadn’t seen or heard about this man for about 6 years, since I was last at the college and here I was talking about him at an audition for a musical. He had helped me discover my love of theatre and given me my first role. In some small way, here he was again.
The Audition:
I think everyone was nervous. Before we went in I had heard that singing wasn’t required if you were trying for the ensemble. My heart had leapt with glee at this news. There had been some amazing singers. Every girl had talent. I was about 8th on the list. The director called my name to sing. I rambled something incoherent about chorus , ensemble, no singing, small part. He encouraged me to give it a go. So I did.
I got up on stage, with my page of lyrics in my hand. Nervous as hell. There’s a tremble in your voice. Bits of your body shake. Worse than a drivers license test.
I told the audience I was not singer. I said this several times. I apologized for what my singing might do to their ears.
I started. The audience laughed in the right place. I think I was so surprised, that I laughed as well. Lost momentum. Dammit. Looked at my piece of paper ( security blanket). Continued. People kept laughing and soon it felt like it would all be alright. I actually even enjoyed some fo the less terrifying moments.
I got off stage. Wanted to die inside a bit. Whilst other candidates were singing established, recognized and recommended audition songs … I had just sung about the invention of the bra on stage. Oh well. I cringed and got through the rest of the audition. Both the acting and dancing sections of the audition were a breeze compared to the singing.
Then it was done and dusted and off we all went to get on with the rest of our day.
A couple of days later I found this on the FB wall for the auditions . The director had written it:
“As the first round was an open audition, the hopefuls were thoroughly entertained by the antics of some of the auditionees. “The Ballad of Otto Titslinger” (Robyn Hobson) was a particular highlight.”
I had done my 9 year old self proud 
I am really glad I did it. It’s something I can cross of my bucket list. I take my hat off to anyone who does it. Go for it. You will live, I promise.
***** I got the part 
So thrilled ! I can’t believe it .
