A MOTHER and son will have the rare opportunity to perform together on stage at London’s O2 Arena next month, as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the hit musical Les Miserables.

The invitations to join the show’s choir came as a bizarre coincidence for Zoe Shepherd and her son, Matthew Sims.

Zoe, 35, was invited as she had been a member of the ensemble cast 10 years ago when she had been working as a professional actor, whereas Matthew, nine, is currently in rehearsals for a production of Les Miserables, to be performed by youth theatre group, Rare Productions.

Zoe, who is head of drama at Beaumont School in St Albans, said: “It’s totally amazing that Matthew got the part, and no sooner had I received my invitation, Matthew came home from rehearsals with the news that Cameron Mackintosh had been in touch with Rare because they wanted 100 children to form part of the choir.

“It’s a lovely coincidence. When we both realised we were going to be in the same show Matthew just burst in to tears with the excitement of it all.”