Two nine-year-old actors from Oxfordshire have perfected Irish accents for a role in a challenging West End play.

Joshua Sarphie, from Bampton Primary School, and Adam Hargreaves, from Chandlings Manor School, Kennington, are sharing the role of the young boy in Waiting for Godot, by Samuel Beckett, at the New Ambassadors Theatre.

They were given the 50-line speaking part in London after appearing in the same production at the Oxford Playhouse in September.

The boys will take it in turns to travel down to London after school for 20 performances each, doing their homework on the train.

Joshua said: "It was a bit of a shock really. I'm only nine and I didn't really expect to get this chance, but I've dreamed of being in the West End ever since I can remember.

"The hardest part was learning to do an Irish accent, but my headmistress is Irish and she really helped me."

Adam said: "Acting just got into me the first time I did a show. Now the lines just come off the top of my head, but I found the Irish accent difficult."

He added: "I want to be in lots of shows in future, especially Les Miserables. I'm learning some of the songs already."

The boys have appeared in professional productions before, after attending auditions through the Stagecoach Theatre Arts Centre in Oxford.

Joshua played Chip in Beauty and the Beast and Adam has had parts in An Inspector Calls and The Wizard of Oz, all at the New Theatre.

Theatre school principal Maya Spriggs said: "For children so young to understand such a challenging play as this is amazing. It's doubly thrilling that the production company has so much respect for them to take them to London for the show."

The play, directed by Peter Hall, is running until November.