Meet the two families at the heart of the hilarious, madcap production of The Addams Family due to hit the stage in Innerleithen on Monday, March 25...

The first thing you have to know about this show is it is very much a musical comedy.

And if you are doing a comedy in Innerleithen then you can’t go far wrong with Dougie Russell as your leading man, playing the demanding part of Gomez. In a near 25-year stage career, Dougie has shown his comic timing to superb effect in shows such as Oklahoma!, South Pacific, Sister Act and in last year's brilliant Shrek The Musical as Donkey.

Dougie also has major acting chops and there is more than a shade of his unforgettable Tevye in this year's Gomez – the amusing (and lyrically dexterous) monologues, the melancholy of a father grappling with his daughters growing up and the man holding together a family.

It’s all there, and Dougie’s Gomez looks like it will be another performance to remember from this versatile player.

You can’t have Gomez without Morticia and it’s brilliant to see Angela Duncan back in a leading role at Innerleithen and District Amateur Operatic Society (IDAOS).

Angela lit up the stage as Belle in Beauty and The Beast back in 2010 and she returns to a leading part the full package, with her stage experience in Edinburgh companies adding to her natural talent.

Anyone who knows Angela will be fascinated to see how she can transform herself into the enigmatic, dark matriarch Morticia. Get a ticket and find out.

The Addams family bairns are brought to life by Erin Thompson as Wednesday and Rosie Graham as Pugsley.

Erin has the singing voice, comic timing and deadpan delivery to nail this iconic part and is sure to be the emotional heart of the show, particularly her relationship with Gomez.

When she isn’t treading the boards, Erin is part of the team breathing new life into the Eastgate Theatre in Peebles.

Rosie is playing the part of teenage misfit Pugsley.

Many will remember Rosie’s timeless turn as Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ back in 2018.

Rosie demands an audience’s attention when she walks on stage and this will be no different.

Pugsley’s sparring partner in the show is Grandma Addams, played by Karen Wilson and, for Karen, no stone has gone unturned in bringing this gruesome granny to life! She will, of course, nail this comic, kooky part.

Finally, in this dysfunctional family we come to the ambiguous Uncle Fester and the giant butler Lurch.

Dale Burnside, taking his first major role as Fester, has worked incredibly hard to obtain and now polish this role, which comes with the pressure of an epic solo number.

Dale is sure to bring the weird, deranged and supernatural Fester to life!

Finally, in the family is Jamie McCubbin as Lurch; it’s a great role for Jamie to get his teeth into, and has a few surprises in store for audiences...

The dramatic tension in the show comes from the introduction of the All American Beineke family to the mix.

Playing Lucas, love interest of Wednesday, is Jonnie MG.

Jonnie has been a player as a child and now has his first leading part, giving him a chance to share his strong voice and exuberant style with the world.

Mum and dad, Alice and Mal, are played by Nicole Graham and Roger Brydon.

Nicole is a newcomer to IDAOS, and to Innerleithen, throwing herself into the society, and into the seemingly uptight Alice.

Roger has now done several shows with IDAOS and has one of his best parts this year with Mal and a real chance for Roger to stretch his acting muscles.

Get your tickets online at www.idaos.org.uk or from Graham McGrath’s in Peebles (during opening hours until March 18) or The Allotment/Post Office in Innerleithen on Monday and Fridays (3-5pm) and Saturdays (10am-1.30pm).