Would-be stars taking part in a talent contest have been discovering the cost of a possible glimpse of fame - £1,300, plus travel and accommodation.

The mother of a girl who auditioned at last week’s American Model and Talent Competition (AMTC) event in Canterbury has criticised the competition and Canterbury-based Kent Youth Theatre for associating with it.

Held at Canterbury High School and supported by the Kent Youth Theatre, the event promises to take a selected group of singers, actors, dancers and other performers from across the UK to a showpiece convention at Disneyland, Paris, in November.

But that’s only after filling out pages of forms and paying £1,300 to attend the six-day convention the firm calls “The Olympics” of the industry.

Mrs O’Dowd said: “My daughter attended the audition and was delighted to get a recall.

“However, when the papers and numerous forms arrived (almost 20 pages) she was disappointed to find that she was obliged to pay $2,495 to attend what is in fact a convention in Disneyland Paris.

“Had she known what lay behind the original ad for auditions she would certainly not have gone.”

Audition co-host Richard Andrews, of the Kent Youth Theatre, said that “a large percentage” of 10 successful candidates had dropped out.

On top of £1,300 fees, candidates must pay for their travel, accommodation and a $75 optional fee for seminars aimed at giving them the best chance of success in categories ranging from swimsuit modelling to TV commercials.

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In an email to Kent Youth Theatre, Mrs O’Dowd added: “I think is is a great shame that the respected Kent Youth Theatre has put its name to what I believe to be little more than a marketing exercise for AMTC to fill spaces at their very expensive convention.”

Mr Andrews said: “The costs could have been stated earlier, yes.

“I spoke to many industry contacts before agreeing to participate in this competition.

“There is always a big cost in selling something like this and I suppose it’s like any sales pitch, you always leave the painful bit until the end.”

An AMTC spokesman said candidates at the Paris “convention” got access to top industry professionals.

She said: “We give all successful candidates an email with a link to the company website and tell them to go to the 'frequently asked questions’ area where costs are given.

“These people would not get the chance to meet with industry professionals like this otherwise.

“At the end of the day it is up to the individuals to decide if it is money well spent.”