They worked with the Beatles in the 1960s, were stars in their own right in the 1970s and one of them went on to work with Tina Turner and Michael Jackson in the 1980s, but now Scottish songwriters Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle have found new collaborators to work with, The Largs Players.

Next April the amateur dramatic group will premiere a new musical based on the songs of the song-writing duo who were themselves raised in Largs. The show, When I'm Dead and Gone, has been created by theatre director and Deputy Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Maggie Kinloch who also grew up in the town.

And the links don't stop there. Kinloch's brother Stewart Grant was Gallagher's manager and sound engineer when Kinloch was a teenager. "Their songs have been the soundtrack to a whole decade of my life as a consequence," Kinloch revealed. "I have been a fan ever since I first met them and heard their music all these years ago. The theatrical potential just hit me one day while I was listening to one of their CDs in the car.

"The opportunity to write a stage musical which allows the songs to have a new dramatic life and to be heard by a new audience, as well as by Graham and Benny's lifelong fans, was just too good to miss."

The musical will be set in a small seaside town on the west coast of Scotland as well as New York. It's an original story despite the familiarity of its tunes. "When I'm Dead and Gone is not the story of our lives," said Graham Lyle, "but instead it is a wonderful story based on our songs. I can't wait to see it. I am delighted that our songs are the inspiration for this musical. What makes it all the more special is that from the start to the finish, this musical is the creation of a team mainly from Largs – cast, crew, writers and of course, Benny and I."

Gallagher and Lyle began to make a mark in the late sixties when they were signed to the Beatles' publishing company Apple. They then started to have hits in the seventies, first as members of the band McGuinness Flint who recorded the song that provides the musical with its title, and then as a duo in 1972, racking up chart entries with songs like I Wanna Stay with You and Heart on My Sleeve.

After the duo broke up Lyle went on to write What's Love Got to Do With It? with Terry Britten, which was to become a huge hit for Tina Turner and the song Just Good Friends for Michael Jackson which appeared on his album Bad. Gallagher meanwhile became the first chairman of the Performing Artists Media Rights Association. In recent years, however, they have begun to perform together once again.

Now there songs will be given new life via the musical. Kinloch, who is co-writing the show with River City writer Vivien Adam, will direct the show which will also feature pupils from Largs Academy. Ryan Moir will be musical director and Glasgow musician Matthew Hickman (aka Brown Bear) will also be involved. Auditions for the show will take place in December.

"Everything about this musical is perfect symmetry as Largs was, and always will be, a major inspiration in our song-writing." Benny Gallagher added. "Being able to work alongside the new generation of local talent such as Ryan Moir and Matt Hickman et al will be a privilege."

Drew Cochrane, president of Largs Players said he was excited about the prospect of next year's show. "This is such a brilliant opportunity for Largs Players to celebrate the genius of Gallagher and Lyle. Graham and Benny are a source of pride to this town and we are delighted to be collaborating with them on this world premiere musical at our own Barrfields Pavilion Theatre."

Auditions for the role will take place in December. For more information visit largsplayers.co.uk.