Fortunately for Mitchell Mahony, he’s been able to channel those experiences into his latest job.

The 29-year-old Oak Flats resident is the male swing in TML Enterprises’ Australian production of the hit musical A Chorus Line, which will be performed at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from July 20.

Mr Mahony, who grew up in Warilla said the show was a slightly exaggerated depiction of the ordeals performers went through.

“It’s quite a stressful job, to have to go in for auditions all the time,” he said.

“It’s a heightened version (of reality). Usually you’re just a number; they don’t ask about your lives, it’s usually pretty impersonal.”

The original production of A Chorus Line opened on Broadway in 1975.

It tells the story of 17 dancers desperately auditioning for eight stage roles in a musical.

The show has already played to full houses in Adelaide and Melbourne, but dancer and singer Mr Mahony only joined the cast for its recent Singapore tour after another performer pulled out.

His role entails substituting if one of the ensemble has to withdraw due to injury, illness or holidays and was called upon for about half a dozen shows during the tour.

“It was good, but it was hectic as I only had a few days’ rehearsal,” Mr Mahony said.

“I went over and pretty much learnt as I went. It all came together and all the other swings helped me.”

After learning his craft at dance schools throughout the Illawarra, Mr Mahony trained as a ballet and contemporary dancer at the Queensland University of Technology.

However, he came to singing late, only seeing his first live musical at age 23.

“I had pitch, but it was just repetition and training,” he said.

“I started so late, I had to work a lot harder than others and still have to.”

After studying he worked on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship for a year-and-a-half, followed by a 13-month stint at Tokyo Disney.

“I pretty much got told the place to work was London, so I packed up and moved there at 24,” he said.

He landed a swing role in Wicked on the West End, beginning a three-year stint with the production.

For more information, visit the www.achorusline.com.au website.