Acting is child's play for this city old boy

For while many of us like to think we are young at heart, the 24-year-old looks set to make a career playing characters many years his junior.

After playing the teenager Melchior in The Spring Awakening at the Theatre Royal, Bath, and D'Artagnan in the Three Musketeers, in Manchester, Matt will soon be at Worcester's Swan Theatre acting his shoe size and not his age.

The former Nunnery Wood High School pupil is to entertain children and adults alike as he stars as George in The Birmingham Stage Company's production of George's Marvellous Medicine.

But he says acting as the mischievous schoolboy from the Roald Dahl story isn't as easy as it seems.

When I looked at the script, which is very faithful to the book, it seemed easy. However, it's one of the hardest parts I've done, he said.

Not only is it very physical because I spend the first half running around making up the medicines, but I also have to give it a magical factor for the children without over-playing it.

I have to be as natural as I can but make sure it retains all the energy and fascination a young child would have doing the things George does."

He must be getting it right as the show has been selling out most nights during the past five weeks touring the country.

Matt, however, modestly says he believes the show's success is down to its amazing special effects and music.

They are superb, but I can't talk about them as it would give everything away, he said.

So what's next for the former member of the Worcester Swan amateur dramatic group and Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society? And are we going to Matt act his age in the near future?

I look young so this is my meal ticket, he said.

I don't mind this and enjoy playing the parts, but if someone offered me the right role as an adult I would take it.

Tickets to the performance, which runs between next Tuesday and Saturday, are available from the theatre's box office on 01905 27322.