HOW do you become Frankie Valli?

Or rather, how do you become one of the Frankies who have appeared in front of 23 million people across the world, including an eight year stint in London’s west end?

You work. Hard. And then you try again.

Matt Corner is set to appear as Valli in Jersey Boys at the Theatre Royal, the theatre show which tells of the rise and fall - and rise - of the Four Seasons.

But he reveals, landing the role demanded real perseverance.

“The audition process was relentless,” says the twenty-five year-old.

“It involved seven or eight recalls before they even consider you.

“All the time the producers are saying ‘He may have what it takes . . . he may . . .

“But you have to wait and wait. And you audition again, you sing all the high stuff, you show your range and you show you have the stamina to survive the shows.”

Matt was initially hired by the producers to appear as the ‘alternate’, where he played Frankie for two shows a week, to give the main Frankie a break.

Now after a year as the back-up, Matt is the main Frankie, singing the likes of Big Girls Don’t Cry.

But that didn’t mean the demands of the job lessened.

Producers make sure the performers are trained perfectly and are sent to Frankiecamp, a special centre in the States where they are put through their paces.

Yet, Matt Corner, who grew up in Darlington in the North East, didn’t set out to have a singing career.

“Singing has always been an important part of my life but I’m an actor. I went to drama school.”

This singing talent however took him into the west end with Queen musical We Will Rock You.

However, Matt points out Jersey Boys requires a heavy acting shift.

“It’s not a jukebox musical at all,” he maintains, smiling. “When we began to rehearse we were told to treat it like a play with music.

“And although the singing is such an important part of this show, the script is fantastic, written by Brickman and Elice who are film writers.

“It’s written in the same rhythm as the Four Seasons speak. It’s fantastic.

“But it’s also directed like film, with one scene blending into the next, which means your timing has to be perfect.”

Jersey Boys offers a real insight into the minds of young who surrender to temptations and have to cope with the pressures of success.

This was The Sopranos world, of hoodlums and wise-guys.

“This is a gritty story. It’s a tale of what goes up must come down, the fights with the mob, the grievances, the lot.

“But it’s also about friendship and loyalty, about these guys staying together.

“And it’s the story of Frankie, who was too young to get into the bars where the other guys were singing. But Tommy De Vito had heard something really special in Frankie’s voice when he sang on the street and brought him through.”

The producers of Jersey Boys heard something special in Matt’s voice.

However, Matt wasn’t used to singing falsetto.

“I was more of a rock tenor. Falsetto was something I did as a kid but never thought I’d end up singing it in my career.

“In fact, after my first audition I told my mother I didn’t think I would get the job.

“But after that night, I went off and listened to Frankie’s records, over and over again. I began to get the sound in my head.

“And it all seemed to come together.”

He adds; “The show isn’t about copying Frankie Valli. It’s about trying to get the essence of Frankie.”

There’s been an element of sacrifice along the way. Matt has been on the road since last September and the show will run until February.

“I gave up my flat in London because I figured it was just a drain on my resources.

“Essentially, I’m living out of a bag. And we all like to have somewhere we can call home.

“But there are people out there digging roads. There are people like heart surgeons doing very difficult jobs.”

His personal life also takes second place.

“I’m not in a relationship at the moment, although I have seen people on an off during the run of the show.”

He adds, grinning; “There are only four girls in the show - not enough to go round.

Matt knows the value of playing a character such as Valli.

“If I’d gone into a show like Made in Chelsea or TOWIE I’d be famous.

“I’d have a huge Twitter feed, free entry into the big London night clubs, all of that, but I’d rather saw my arm off than do that.

“Someday I want to do Shakespeare, TV, appear at the National Theatre. And that means I’ll work very hard at being Frankie Valli today.”

• Jersey Boys, The Theatre Royal, December 8 – January 3.