St Paul’s Dramatics Society are gearing up for their latest musical production, ‘Me and My Girl’ where a cast of 32 people, aged between nine and 60, will light up the stage of the 240 seater venue.

Musical director Linda Rae said she would love to see the new venue full for the production.

She said: “The venue is excellent with raked seating to give people a better overall view of the stage and much more comfortable padded seats.” The musical is set in the late 1930s and tells the story of Bill Snibson, who learns that he has inherited a huge amount of money and an estate. Bill’s rough Cockney ways do not satisfy his newly discovered well-to-do family and in order to gain his inheritance, Bill must learn gentlemanly manners.

Bill’s aunt, the Duchess of Dene, thinks that she can make Bill “fit and proper” but not his girlfriend, Sally Smith.

Graeme Southwood, will take on the leading role of Bill and Sally will be played by his off-stage girlfriend Emily Thomson. The couple are both experienced actors and met at the Lyric Theatre Club Glasgow.

Graeme said: “We’ve been together nearly four years. It’s a strange situation but its good. This is Emily’s first show with St Pauls.” The 24-year-old has lost count of the number of shows he has been part of in Johnstone’s old town hall and said he is looking forward to performing in the new building.

He said: “Being the number one show in there is a great thing for us.” He started with the drama group in October 2006 when he preformed the lead role in Les Miserables and since then has been involved in two shows a year including Oliver and Crazy for You.

Graeme, who is originally from Langbank, said he usually gets nervous about ten seconds before going on stage and again at the curtain call.

He said: “I think it’s because you have finished the show and reflect on what you have done.” The show has a very experienced production team with Finlay Waters as director, Kirsty Galt as choreographer and Colin Rae as stage manager.

Talented actors Leah Farrell Smith and Iain Usher will play the parts of Lady Jacqueline and Sir Gerald Bolingbroke. Both Leah and Iain played opposite each other in a production of Oliver which took place in the old Johnstone Town Hall before it was demolished.

Linda said the show will include well-known songs Leaning on the Lamp post, Lambeth Walk, Sun has got its hat on and Me and My Girl.

She continued: “Audiences can expect a lot of fun, laughter, good quality singing and dancing and a thoroughly enjoyable live show.

“The show takes place from Wednesday, October 7 until Saturday, October 10 and this year we are including a Saturday matinee due to the high volume of interest at the opening of the new town hall. Not many older people like going out at night and this would be a perfect solution for them.” Tickets are now on sale and are priced at £12 for adults and £10 for children and concessions.

There will also be 15 per cent discount for block bookings of 20 or more on one performance.

Tickets are available from Top Cards, High Street, Johnstone.