GALASHIELS-based theatre company the Dramateurs is putting the finishing touches to its winter production.

The group will stage two one-act plays in the Mac Arts Centre (formerly St Andrew’s Art Centre) in the town’s Bridge Street on three nights next month.

The show – from Wednesday, November 12 to Friday, November 14 – will mark the climax of an exceptional year for the amateurs who began life in 1949.

In February, the company entered the Scottish Community Drama Association’s one-act festival and won the best newcomer award for its reworking of Alan Ayckbourn’s A Talk in the Park.

In the spring the cast made history by staging the first public dramatic performance in the Mac Arts Centre which has now become their permanent base.

That two-acter, Liz Lochhead’s Good Things, attracted critical acclaim before playing to packed houses in the village halls of Eckford and Lilliesleaf.

The new production features Dramateurs debutants Tom Lambert from Selkirk and Rebekah Chapman from Gordon.

Lambert, who starred in Gala Opera’s Jesus Christ Superstar in 2011, will take the role of Jonah in Ron Nicol’s drama Waiting for the Whale – a dark tale of a man pushed to the edge. Seeking to highlight his plight, he acquires a gun and decides to make a stand in his local jobcentre – with disastrous results.

Young Chapman, a stalwart of several Earlston High productions, along with Virginia-born Paula Ketterer from Innerleithen, offer accomplished support to the plot – if not to the tragic anti-hero.

These actresses will then take centre stage in the second offering – Nancy McPherson’s sparky comedy Excess Baggage.

Set in a health spa, it explores the less tangible “baggage” of Hilary (Susan Dickson), Denise (Ketterer), Grace (Jen Horsley) and Pauline (Lynn Allen) – who find themselves at the mercy of controlling pilates teacher Sonya and enthusiastic beauty therapist Tiffany (both played by the versatile Chapman).

Home truths are traded and tensions build to a hilarious climax.

The show’s co-producer Susan Dickson told the Border Telegraph that rehearsals have been going “very well”.

“We’re delighted to be able to rehearse and put on the production at the same venue,” she said.

“And, of course, it’s wonderful to have such talented newcomers as Tom and Rebekah on board for the first time, bringing with them so much enthusiasm as well as experience.” Tickets (£7) are currently available from Reiver Property Management in Bank Street or online at www.thedramateurs.co.uk An exhibition of recently discovered photographs and reviews of past productions will also be available to view over the three nights.