Alastair Cheyne plays the part of Douglas, the son of Joy Gresham in William Nicholson's award-winning play Shadowlands which is to be performed by the village drama group later this month.

Alastair, who made his local debut as a cut-throat pirate in the group's recent panto Treasure Island, is relishing the opportunity of portraying a boy who grew up in New York.

He said: "I've listened carefully to American voices on TV programmes and I got used to hearing the accent when I went on holiday to Florida with my family.

"I love acting and I am really enjoying Shadowlands."

He added: "I think I'm quite good at accents. I had to do a Chinese one once for a play at Hipsburn First School."

The play centres on the developing relationship from mutual respect to deep love between shy Oxford don CS 'Jack' Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia and Douglas's mother.

The shocking brutality of Joy's terminal illness during their all too short time together severely tests Lewis's belief in the beneficence of God.

Director Ralph Firth said: "Without Ali we could not do the play. The part of the boy is central to Shadowlands, as he represents both Lewis when he himself was a boy, and children everywhere, by connecting this world to the world of Narnia.

"Ali is only just 11 and yet he has to play a part full of emotion and loss, whilst being the only young person in the cast. It is a really demanding role, and, on top of that, he has to do it in an American accent, and in a style correct for the 1950s.

"He has been magnificent and really risen to the challenge."

Shadowlands was originally staged in 1989 and starred Nigel Hawthorn and Jane Lapotaire in the leading roles. Four years later, Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger helped make the screen version a major cinematic triumph.

The Warkworth production takes place in the Memorial Hall, Castle Street, from Thursday, April 24, to Saturday, April 26, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 each and may be obtained at N&F Young in Amble, Warkworth Post Office or through the drama group website: www.warkworthdrama.org.uk. Tickets may also be bought on the door on the night.