THE latest production by Dumbarton People's Theatre (DPT) is set to get under way soon with auditions taking place on Thursday.

The amateur theatre group, founded in 1945, is beginning its 69th season with a performance of I Remember Mama, written by John Van Druten.

The play tells the story of the Hansons, a family of Norwegian immigrants living in San Francisco in the early part of the 20th Century.

The production has a large cast with 13 female parts and nine male parts across all ages - there's even room for a cat!

Tricia Nicoll, has been a member of DPT for around 40 years and has both acted and directed for DPT. She told the Reporter: "It is a lovely family play and has lots of humour, a good story, and gentle tragedy.

"It is about a family living in San Francisco in the early 1900�s and more specifically, the story of a young girl who aspires to be a writer and in the end finds truth in her writing by telling the story of her own family and their struggles." Tricia has been a member of DPT since 1970 and says directing the play has a special significance for her.

She continued: "I personally love this play as it has very fond memories for me. I played the part of one of the young girls in my very first DPT production at the age of 13. Later my own daughter and I starred together in a production of the play." Last month, the Reporter told you how DPT held its AGM and elected a new president, Stephen Watt, following the death of former president Ronnie Armstrong earlier this year.

Tricia says the death of Ronnie has had a big impact on the group.

She said: "Ronnie Armstrong is so sorely missed. Growing up he was one of our heros and gave many people their first role, especially in panto. We have just had our first committee meeting with Stephen as president.

"There is no doubt that Stephen respectfully takes on the role and knows that we have a duty of continuing Ronnie�s legacy. Stephen is very highly respected by young and old and will do a great job." If you are keen to try out for the play, auditions for the production will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday at the DPT rehearsal studio on Glasgow Road, across from Dumbarton East Station.