Arts Diary: Will Marriott

Last weekend the energetic lot held a ten-and-a-half-hour Dance-a-thon, raising a fantastic £6,000 for the theatre’s Access for All Fund. From 10am to 8.30pm on Sunday more than 180 people took part in the Dance-a-Thon which was non-stop dancing for the entire period.

The day was broken down into sessions of different dance styles from disco to jive, from ballroom to salsa. You could sign up for one session, or if you were feeling up for a challenge do all ten-and-a-half hours, which over 30 people did. The money which will go towards the disabled access lift installed in the De Grey Rooms.

Theatre artist Faye Draper has performed in a car, a railway museum and a ladies’ toilet. Next month she’s adding a dinner table to that eclectic list.

The Northern Stage actor is bringing her show Tea Is an Evening Meal to Huddersfield’s Lawrence Batley Theatre on May 11. If you don’t like audience participation, it might not be your thing – if you watch the play it is with only 11 other audience members and you sit around a dining table. If it is your thing, book quick – there are very few tickets available: 01484 430528, www.thelbt.org

Word Life is the rather brilliant little evening run at Bradford University’s Theatre in the Mill. An evening of spoken word organised by the lovely Sheffield-based performance poet Joe Kriss, the monthly event is back on April 15 and this time the audience can get involved, with an open mic session as part of the performance for the first time. We think it’s a great idea, just wonder who will be brave enough to take to the stage given that one of the evening’s performers is Polar Bear, recognised as one of Britain’s best spoken word performers. If you’re tough enough, call 01274 233200 for info.

Oscars, Cannes, Sundance: Ted Hope and Christine Vachon have been there and done it and now they’re coming to Leeds. The pair are multi-award winning independent movie producers and are bringing their movie making secrets to Leeds. Ted Hope has won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize more times than any other producer and Christine Vachon is an Oscar-winning producer. Basically, they are both very impressive – and they’re in Leeds, at the Rose Bowl, on Monday. Tickets and info on 01274 370291. www.keepingitindie.eventbrite.com

Friends of the Earth are going to be helping out with the UK’s first ever Green Film Festival, which will run in Leeds and four other cities next month.

John Long, co-founder of the UK Green Film Festival said: “We’re having to pinch ourselves a little bit here. Bearing in mind we only conceived this festival a few months ago, finding now we’ve struck a chord with so many people and attracting supporters with the calibre of Friends of the Earth to our ever growing festival family is exciting to say the least.” Check out www.ukgreenfilmfestival.org.