BACK in 1996, 12-year-old Eilidh McCormick sat alongside Iain Robertson on a film studio couch as the youngsters worked on a scene from what was to become a cult movie, Small Faces.

Fast forward 18 years and now the pair are reunited, this time on the theatre stage.

Eilidh is starring alongside Iain in The Bridge, a new play by Donna Franceschild which tells of the events of an evening when two strangers meet on a bridge late one night. Both explain their reasons for being there. Both are lying.

"This is the first time we've worked together since," says Eilidh of her co-star, smiling.

"We've done play readings, but this is the first time we've been in an actual production in almost 20 years.

"And it's a great play. This man, Davy, arrives on the bridge and he won't go away. And we don't know why. But as actors we get to explore the tactics of working out why the other person is there.

"We get to explore a mix of emotion, of confusion and humour, and there are some great plot twists along the way."

Eildih adds: "Donna's written a great piece, with some great Glaswegian phrases which you perhaps wouldn't expect from an American writer."

The set-up music also features some classic Glaswegian pieces such as Sam The Skull and Ye Cannae Shove Yer Granny Aff A Bus.

"The music contrasts with the grittiness of the piece," says Eilidh, "with strangers trying to work out the other's agenda."

Eilidh grew up in Paisley and knew she wanted to act from an early age after seeing the children's theatre group, PACE panto.

She joined PACE, and while there landed the role in Small Faces.

"I was so excited I ran through the house screaming," she says of hearing the news. But was it daunting for a youngster to land a film role?

"Yes and no," she says, smiling. "As a child sometimes you aren't phased by the sort of things that bother you as an adult.

"And to be honest, I was at an age where I got most excited by the fantastic buffet lunches on set."

Careers teachers tried to push Eilidh in other directions, not surprisingly since she got great grades in her six Highers and two Advance Highers.

But she opted to study drama and Coatbridge College, going on to attend drama college in London where fellow students included future Dr Who star Karen Gillan.

"I really enjoyed it and got a honours degree in Drama," she says of the London experience. "And while there I got involved in putting on a show at the Edinburgh Fringe, with students in my year. It was great experience pulling it together and as a result, the college does it every year."

The trailblazer went on to work in television such as Waterloo Road and a range of theatre shows. However, her most demanding role came about she she landed work as an understudy in a Steven Berkoff production of On The Waterfront.

"I was told from the beginning that I wouldn't go on stage, that my job was just back-up," she recalls. "But on opening night in London, the lead girl who played the Edie Doyle character (Coral Beed) did one scene and then walked off stage and said to me; 'I don't feel well.'

"I said; 'Take a deep breath, you'll be fine.' But the next thing, she collapsed right in front of me."

Eilidh knew what that meant. Either the show would be cancelled - or she'd have to go on stage.

"The medics were called and the company manager said we would stop the show for ten minutes, regroup and work out what we should do.

"Meantime however, the show was still going on, with Steven Berkoff on stage.

"He didn't know what had happened until when his scene ended, he came off to be told we'd have to stop the show.

"But when he learned I was the understudy and had learned the lines, he reached down and removed Eadie's coat and shoes, handed them to me, and said 'Great. Here you go!'

And she did. Eilidh walked on stage, completely unrehearsed, and performed the role of Edie. And she handled it so well she played the lead for the next two weeks.

"At the end of the first show, Steven walked me to the front of the stage, told the audience my name and why I'd stepped in. And he said 'I want you all to remember her.' I got a great round of applause and felt fantastic."

This week's Oran Mor performance should be a little less stressful.

"I'm hoping that will be the case," says Eilidh, smiling.

l The Bridge, Oran Mor, until Saturday.