The story following the extraordinary life of the ordinary teenage girl from Liverpool, Priscilla White, and her rocky, yet incredible, rise to fame as Cilla Black will dazzle audiences at the Wycombe Swan this month.

The nation’s sweetheart, who lived in Denham before she passed away in 2015, is portrayed by actress Kara Lily Hayworth, who beat thousands of hopefuls in nationwide open auditions for the coveted role.

“She’s an absolute icon. I sing 18 songs in the show, so it’s tough vocally, but I feel incredibly lucky to be able to play her,” Kara said.

“When people come to stage door and share their memories of her, it reminds me how special it is and how much it means for me to portray someone who had such an influence on their lives.”

The musical score is the ultimate soundtrack to the 60’s including Cilla’s greatest hits Anyone Who Had a Heart, Alfie and Something Tells Me, alongside a backdrop of the legendary “Liverpool Sound” including the Beatles’ Twist and Shout, and American influences like California Dreamin’ by The Mamas and The Papas.

Kara said: “The audiences love all the music. All of Cilla’s hits are in there but there’s also early Beatles songs as well, Gerry And The Pacemakers, The Mamas & The Papas. But it’s not a jukebox musical. It’s a play with truly fantastic songs woven into it.”

So what can the audiences expect when Cilla - The Musical comes to the Wycombe Swan on November 27?

“In essence, it’s a beautiful love story,” said Kara. “It follows Cilla Black’s rise to fame, but underneath it’s about her relationship with Bobby and their journey.

“You watch how they progress and how Cilla becoming a star affects their relationship.”

A fan of Cilla’s since she met her in a clothes shop when she was just 10-years-old, Kara has admitted it was a challenge to play someone so well-known and cherished. 

She said: “The hardest thing to get across is that magic she had that made audiences fall in love with her. That’s what she was so good at; whatever she was doing, people just fell in love with her. That’s the hardest thing. 

“The trick is trying to capture her essence. I’m not doing an impersonation, but I’ve adopted certain mannerisms. It’s my own take on it. Hopefully I’ve included little things that remind people of her without mimicking her.”

And in a baptism of fire, the tour premiered in Liverpool, Cilla’s hometown. 

“I was extremely nervous playing a Liverpudlian icon in Liverpool. I didn’t know if they’d like the show or if they’d like me. I sing Anyone Who Had A Heart, her first number one hit, at the end of the first act. 

“At that point, everyone stood up and everything just stopped. That was an extraordinary moment that I won’t forget. It’s always a real high point in the show. It’s the first time the audience sees her really become a star.”

Cilla - The Musical will finish its tour with a stop at the Wycombe Swan from November 27 to December 1. 

Tickets from £14.50, available online at wycombeswan.co.uk or call 01494 512000.