A Berkshire Theatre School performer has been chosen by Dolly Parton to star in her latest West End musical this Christmas.

11 year-old Elliott Marsden from Windsor started auditioning for shows on the West End six months ago represented by Fonfe Talent based in Winnersh.

After being whittled down from hundreds of boys, he has been offered the part of Understudy Tiny Tim in Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol this December.

Elliott said: “I’m really excited about it. It will be my first professional show and I think it’s a great one to start with.

“I’ve done shows in Windsor Royal Court but this is my first one in London.”

As part of the selection process Elliott was asked to send in a self-tape of him singing a verse and a chorus of a song which he completed with his teacher at Berkshire Theatre School.

An invite into London meant he moved to the next stage of auditions where he was asked to sing two songs and perform a scene in a Southern American accent from the show.

Mum Holly said: “The weekend was intense. He had to do the first audition and then when he was brought back for a recall he did it again where it was professionally filmed and sent to Dolly who had final approval.

“During the same weekend he also had another show that he was auditioning for in London so he had double the amount of material whizzing about in his head.

“The audition process is actually quite cutthroat, especially when they are kids. But Elliott has been to auditions before so it’s not as scary for him, it’s just how they do it.”

Elliott first started at the Berkshire Theatre School run by Sammy Fonfe and her husband where he spends Saturday learning all the tricks of the trade, including singing, dancing and acting.

In May, he was signed with the agency run by Sammy Fonfe and begun auditioning for shows in London.

As well as Saturday classes the school also holds a Christmas Cabaret in November which Elliott hopes to be involved in despite his rehearsals which start on November 7.

Elliott’s Mum explains how proud she is of his achievement. She said: He’s very determined and I think it’s just amazing.

“Sometimes me and my husband don’t know how he does it. He can pick up words very easily which is really impressive. He was offered the other job as well, so he was very lucky and worked very hard.”

His goal is to be a West End actor and after a tough few years for children during the pandemic it is an achievement for him to land such a large role.

Sammy Fonfe said: “I am really proud of Elliott and his success; he works so hard and thoroughly deserves it!”

Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol will run from December 8 to January 8 at Queen Elizabeth Hall at London's Southbank.