WHEN Mamie Lang ducked into Langside Library to avoid the rain 14 years ago, little did she know that it was the first in a long series of events that would change her life.

She spotted a notice for a writing group, went in and joined ... and then went on to write episodes of Scottish soap High Road.

Not only that, but her writing inspired her to start a drama group for kids in one of Glasgow's most disadvantaged areas – and it has changed hundreds of young lives too.

She said: "I've got seven in Waterloo Road, six of them worked with Brad Pitt in the film World War Z and five have been in River City. They've been in Peter Mullan's film Neds too."

For the last 12 years, children from the Castlemilk area have been going to Mamie's Weans to learn how to sing, dance and act, and now they're making waves in the film and TV industry.

One of the first to come to the class, Conor McCarry, 17, recently starred alongside superstars Rihanna and Liam Neeson in the summer blockbuster, Battleship.

Now an acting and performance student at Motherwell College, he is also the new face of Irn Bru and is set to star alongside Keira Knightley and Jude Law in September, in the latest big screen take on Anna Karenina.

Mamie said: "I still keep in touch with Conor, he was my first wee star. They're all just so talented. I used to take ages seven and up, but then their wee brothers and sisters wanted to come too.

"Their mothers used to come to me saying they were being driven crazy, so I reduced it to three and a half."

One of these youngsters is four-year-old Robbie Neilson, who is a new cast member in River City playing Callum, Lenny's grandson.

He and his twin, Finlay, were looked after by Mamie when they were babies, so she has a particular attachment to them.

She said: "They're just absolutely amazing. When Robbie got the role in River City, I thought 'I need to do something' as Finlay's nose was a wee bit out of joint.

"So there's a local filmmaker I work with, Kevin MacIntyre, and he was looking for a young boxer aged seven in his film Diamonds In The Rough.

"I asked if he would lower it to three and a half, and then Finlay got the job."

As well as childminding, Paisley-born Mamie's life has taken many turns. She's been a cleaner, a mechanic and a snooker hall owner, and was even a novice nun when she was a teenager.

But it was after joining the writing group that she met Glasgow playwright Des Dillon, who encouraged her to pick up a pen and set her on the road to her true calling – writing and working with children.

Since that day in November 1997, she's taken on various projects including work on a children's book and a stint as Castlemilk Writer in Residence for three years, just like her mentor, the creator of hit anti-sectarian play Singin' I'm No a Billy, He's a Tim.

"Des is an amazing guy," said the 71-year-old.

"I used to always say to him 'You've changed my life. If it hadn't been for you-' but Des said 'Mamie, if you didn't have it in you, I couldn't have brought it out you' and that is what happens here with the kids."

"I just love it. I just love seeing them sing and perform, or finding whatever they do best and giving them the confidence to do that.

"And out of all my weans, not one of them has gone down the wrong road."

One of her group, Taryam Boyd, 16, from Castlemilk, now volunteers as a teacher with Mamie's group.

Best known for his role as Adeeb in River City, he says it's the atmosphere that brings out the best in the actors, making them shine.

He said: "If you look at the number of weans there's been, the number of years she's been doing it and the amount of kids she's helped get into acting, it's just brilliant.

"In the class, there's that feeling of comfort so everyone just wants to get up and perform.

"Everybody's mixed in with everyone and all the kids feel secure. It's a place for them to find their own talent, and then we develop that."

Liam Forrester, 15, from Castlemilk, also helps teach after starting classes eight years ago.

He has recently appeared in Divided City at the Citizens Theatre and performed with Mamie's Weans at the Glasgow Community Champions Awards in 2009.

He said: "When I first joined, I was very nervous, but it was Mamie who encouraged me to get up on stage and gave me the confidence. Now you can't keep me off."

Mamie also plays her part in promoting talent on the other side of the camera.

All 75 of her budding stars are appearing in East Kilbride filmmaker Kevin MacIntyre's feature, A Time For Everything, which he hopes will have cinematic release later in the year.

He said: "They're stars of the future, no question about it, and some already are. They're all definitely going places.

"They get taught about professionalism and have brilliant manners.

"And Mamie especially, she doesn't expect or ask for anything from anybody, she just wants to be a part of performing and acting, singing and dancing.

"I think it's an absolutely fabulous thing she does. I'm the oldest wean."

Mamie, who has one daughter, Eileen, but no grandchildren, considers all 75 in her group as her family.

She said: "These are my grandkids. Every last one of them."

And that's the reason behind why she runs Mamie's Weans.

She added: "It's mostly because of the joy I get each Friday night when I'm surrounded by all their love and hugs for me, even the big boys.

"I know they love me and they show it in so many ways and I count myself very blessed."

Mamie's Weans meet every Friday from 6pm to 8pm at Castlemilk Community Centre Cost is £5 per class

fiona.mckay@heraldandtimes.co.uk