The young son of a film star is making his professional stage debut at the Broadway in a new production of Anthony Burgess's infamous Clockwork Orange. Paul Revel reports.

BURGESS'S ultraviolent novella became notorious in the 1970s when Stanley Kubrick's visceral film version was reported to have caused real-life copycat attacks by teenage thugs. Kubrick then banned his own film and it was not allowed to be shown in Britain for nearly 30 years.

Jack Roth plays Alex, the role made famous by Malcolm McDowell in Kubrick's film. Lewisham-born Jack, 20, is the son of actor Tim Roth, star of cult hits such as Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.

Jack says: "It's going to be really good to watch. There's a hell of a lot of things going on, fighting and blood, loads of singing, music. It's hard work, very physical and intricate."

Roth Senior moved away when Jack was a youngster and lives in California.

"I see him on holidays and whenever I can," says Jack. "He's really supported me in what I want to do, both my parents have. When I was younger they always encouraged me to try different things."

This is his first professional show, but he has been involved with youth and fringe productions and he is a keen playwright. He has worked with the Oval House and Royal Court theatre companies.

Jack's love of drama started at a young age.

"I was in all the end-of-year plays at primary school," he says. "I realised I could be the Prime Minister or a famous footballer through acting. It was always fun, you can be whatever you want."

Did Jack's Oscar-nominated father influence his desire to act?

"When I was young, I was on the set of dad's movies and it was really fun. It was exciting, you'd meet so many people.

"Dad did this cool thing of putting me with different departments one day I'd be with the lighting team, the next I'd see how costume and makeup works."

Does he get handy hints on acting from his dad?

"He talks to me and gives me advice but what I really respect is he lets me do it on my own, in my own way."

Broadway general manager Martin Costello is excited about the theatre's latest in-house production.

"We have a really strong cast,"says Costello, who is producing the show. "It's very challenging, a dangerous piece of theatre, because it confronts audience expectations. The singing, elements of pantomime, there's the violence to portray and the audio-visual material. It is a complex production."

The story concerns vicious teenage thug Alex and his gang, for whom life is a rampage of rape and violence, until Alex is arrested.

Is it better to lock him up for life or remove his free will and release him back into the community as a reformed man?

Clockwork Orange author Anthony Burgess did not approve of the Stanley Kubrick film and wrote his own stage version, described as a play with music.

"The film has a different ending from what Burgess wanted," explains Costello.

"It doesn't have the redemption. In both Burgess's book and play, in the end Alex grows up and becomes a mature and sensible person.

"If you study the script it is a piece against violence. It explores the futility of violence."

The play is directed by Cameron Jack, renowned for his successful stage adaptation of another controversial literary landmark, Irvin Welsh's Trainspotting.

A Clockwork Orange, until November 5, Broadway Studio Theatre, Catford Broadway, Tues to Sat 8pm, £7-£10, 020 8690 0002.

Contains strong language, violence and sexually explicit content. Not suitable for children under 16.