THE Lambert family are no strangers to the stage.
As a member of the Hartlepool Stage Society, mum Julie has lost count of the number of productions she has been involved in.
But she doesn't go it alone. When Julie takes to the stage her son is watching from the wings, waiting for his turn in the spotlight.
Julie Lambert, 46, has always encouraged her children to be outgoing and, as youngsters, her son and daughter both became members of the Hartlepool Stage Society.
The musical route for the family began when Julie's daughter Marie asked to go to dancing lessons.
Julie, who lives with her family in the Grange Road area of Hartlepool, said: "Marie always had a flair for singing and dancing, so when she said she wanted to start dancing classes a friend who was already a member suggested I send her to the Hartlepool Stage Society."
Marie, who is now 24 and has just graduated from Warwick University, blossomed at the school and soon Julie realised that she wanted to be on stage too.
Julie said: "I realised how much fun she was having and thought why not?
"I thought it would be something nice to do as a family and so me and my son Charles joined. We all really enjoyed it."
Julie, Charles, now 22, and Marie took part in many productions before Marie left town to go to university.
For Julie starring alongside her children is often an emotional time.
Julie – who also has another son James, 21 – and is married to David, a computer software developer, said: "The first production we took part in was Brigadoon, but one of the most memorable for me was Fiddler on the Roof.
"I stood at the side of the stage every night and my eyes would well up. In fact they still well up.
"Both Charles and Marie had big parts and Charles had a little red outfit. I was so proud."
As members of the group the Lambert's take part in one concert and one production each year and they attend rehearsals twice a week at the society premises in Osbourne Road.
Recently, Charles has also got involved behind the scenes and now works as a stage manager at the productions.
The McDonalds worker said: "We are a close family and it was nice to do something together.
"People are surprised normally when I tell them I am involved. I'm not your average musical type - I used to have a shaved head and am quite broad so people were really surprised.
"I'm not the best singer and dancer in the world, but it has given me a lot of confidence growing up and I'm really pleased now that I am involved with the behind-the-scenes work."
But the family are quite private about their rehearsing. Julie, a team leader at Tesco Express, said: "Charles always rehearses in his bedroom.
"Marie has kept up with the performing while she has been away and has always been a member of a stage group where she has been studying."
The rest of the family, though choosing not to get involved, always show their support.
Julie added: "My husband is tone deaf so he was never interested and it's not really James's thing, but they always come along and watch and support us.
"We have lots of happy memories, when there was a junior section it was fun as there were always lots of children performing.
"The society is like our own little family. We have made lots of friends there and it has been good for the children. We'll definitely be involved with the society for a long time to come."
The Hartlepool Stage Society is holding a cabaret style musical event this month.
That's Entertainment will be showing at the Town Hall Theatre in Hartlepool from Wednesday, October 31, until Saturday, November 3. For more information contact the box office on (01429) 523409.
Anyone interested in becoming a member of the stage society can contact Marilyn Armstrong on (01429) 263704.