A LITTLE Easton teenager will be starring alongside Sex in the City s Kim Cattrall when he takes to the stage in the West End next month. Oliver Cooper-Smith, 13, landed the role of John in David Mamet s The Cryptogram earlier this month and the youngster

A LITTLE Easton teenager will be starring alongside Sex in the City's Kim Cattrall when he takes to the stage in the West End next month.

Oliver Cooper-Smith, 13, landed the role of John in David Mamet's The Cryptogram earlier this month and the youngster, who has attended the Scene II Theatre School in Great Dunmow since last October, is set to wow audiences at the Donmar Warehouse from October 12.

His father David said Oliver was delighted to have successfully auditioned for his first West End role.

"Oliver has had to work extremely hard to get where he has, but he is over the moon to be involved in such a high profile production," he said.

"It's very tiring for him at the moment as he is travelling into Clapham three days a week to go to rehearsals and pick over what is a very deep and complex script."

The Cryptogram, which also stars Douglas Henshall, is about a 10-year-old American who has trouble sleeping after his father does not return home one evening.

As the plot develops, the child realises his mother and father have split up and that his childhood is over.

"The storyline makes it very demanding on Oliver as the cast are constantly dissecting it and trying to portray exactly what the author intended," Mr Cooper-Smith said.

"As well as learning his lines, Oliver is having regular voice coaching lessons with the same teacher who worked with Helen Mirren on The Queen, which was released recently.

"Oliver goes to the Helena Romanes School and they have let him have some time off, but he has been given plenty of homework to be getting on with!"

Scene II teacher Jacky Rom said she was not surprised that Oliver came through an audition and two recalls to land the part.

"We are all absolutely overjoyed that he got the role and we will all be going to see it," she said.

"From day one, Oliver has had a willingness to learn and he has already starred in a commercial for Hasbro Toys earlier this year.

"He is really determined, very enthusiastic and definitely wants to become a successful actor."

Helena Romanes headteacher Simon Knight said Oliver thoroughly deserved his new found fame.

"I am delighted for him and am really glad that his hard work has paid off," he said.

"Drama is going from strength to strength at the school and Oliver's success really is the icing on the cake."

Oliver will share the workload with two other actors for the six week run from October 12 to November 25, with each performing four times a week.

For more details about The Cryptogram, visit www.donmarwarehouse.com or call 0870 060 6624.