A FORMER Wee County man is getting ready to don his stripes for a stint onstage as Pugsley Addams.

Grant McIntyre will take on the role in The Addams Family musical which opens at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh on Thursday, April 20.

It marks the UK and Irish premiere, with book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, and based on the characters created by Charles Addams. 

Grant, who is originally from Alloa, went in for it around February of last year and took on two auditions to secure the part.

He said: "So I'm playing the older brother Pugsley Addams and the production is kind of... going right back to the original cartoons."

When the 25-year-old first found out they were casting for the musical he instantly set his sights on being in the production.

He joked that his family would probably say he shared certain characteristics with Pugsley growing up – "I was pretty cheeky, to put it politely" – and he had been determined to get the part.

As soon as he knew it was casting, he phoned his agent straight away and said – "I want to be Pugsley Addams".

Grant will be joined onstage by Samantha Womack as Morticia, fresh from leaving EastEnders after nearly a decade as Ronnie Mitchell.

Les Dennis, who has spent the last three years as Michael Rodwell in Coronation Street, will take on the role of Uncle Fester.

And Wednesday will be played by Carrie Hope Fletcher, whose theatre credits include Eponine in Les Misérables (London and Dubai) and Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK and Ireland tour).

The production will see that the ultimate princess of darkness has grown up and has a shocking secret that only Gomez knows – she has fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family.

According to Grant, it really has a "bit of everything" for audiences – humour, darkness and iconic characters.

He said: "It's a musical comedy so they can expect a good laugh. It's really funny and, obviously it's a musical so they can expect amazing songs."

The performers have been hard at work in rehearsals, which Grant said have been amazing, and have done a run through of the first act.

The former St Modan's pupil has been enjoying seeing it all coming together and has been having a ball preparing for the run.

He said: "The company are just amazing. Like, every single day we are just in fits of laughter.

"We are really well looked after – the creative team are so inspiring."

Now based in London, Grant first started learning his craft treading the boards with Forefront Stage School, run by Jim Stalker at the time.

It's a local link that has carried on to where he is, as Jim's brother John is a producer on his current show. 

He said: "I started at Forefront Theatre which was in Alloa, under the direction of Naidha Thomson and that was when I was like eight.

"I just got into it sort of as a hobby."

He remained there until the age of 16, during which he started taking it more seriously, and went on attend the Dance School of Scotland before spending three years training at Arts Ed in England's capital.

He has taken on a variety of roles over the last few years, including William Newbold in We Are Here, The National Theatre; Knuckles in Bugsy Malone, The Lyric, Hammersmith; Soloist in Thursford Christmas Spectacular; Jason in Screwface, The Bush Theatre; Colum in The Famished Land,The Greenwood Theatre; Straker in Passport To Pimlico, SouthWestFest and Jonti in Equally at The Cockpit Theatre.

He is giving the The Addams Family his all at the moment and, as for what is next, is going to "see what happens".

The Addams Family UK and Ireland Tour is produced by United Theatrical, Aria Entertainment and Music & Lyrics Limited, in association with the Festival Theatre Edinburgh, and is presented through special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide. 

The tour will run from April-November at various venues, visit the website for more.