Arts Diary: Will Marriott

We’ve also had word of a lovely email from 20-year-old Sam Holland, the Bradford actor who plays the lead in the film, to his acting teacher at Stage 84 stage school.

Sam wrote: “Words cannot describe what happened tonight. Kenneth Branagh hosting the short film night at the academy theatre in Hollywood. We saw all the films from our category. Kenneth Branagh in the Q&A afterwards called my performance utterly superb and touching. I got to stand up in an auditorium of about 1,000 people and I got a massive ovation from all of them. I did the red carpet. Did interviews with loads of different sites. (Did one for BBC too). I SIGNED AUTOGRAPHS for 10 minutes!!! Unbelievable.” Fingers crossed that he’s receiving another round of applause on Sunday night.

There are so many parts to this little tale that we’re not sure where to begin: an actor who performed the role of Buddy in a musical at a local amateur group is returning to his home town to play the part in a professional production of the show. Not only that, Roger Rowley, who’s playing the part of Buddy Holly in The Buddy Holly Story is keeping the family showbiz tradition alive – his great great granddad was the Music Hall star JR Rowley and his father Ian Rowley created Dusty Bin. So, 24-year-old Roger Rowley, who was Buddy in the Buddy Holly musical at Yeadon Town Hall in 2006 and has just finished training at the Guildford School of Acting is making his professional debut at the Bradford Alhambra next week in the same show he performed in as an amateur five years ago. Tickets on 01274 432000.

Chris Monks, artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre will be giving away books on March 5 as part of World Book Night. Chris has chosen All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque and will distribute 48 copies at a free event at the SJT in Scarborough on March 5 at 5.30pm. The event will also feature SJT Youth Theatre members presenting excerpts from the book and a performance of Marlene Dietrich’s Lili Marlene.

The free copies of All Quiet on the Western Front need to be reserved in advance by calling SJT OutReach on 01723 370540 – first come, first served. The books can then be collected at the event on 5 March. Recommended for those aged 15 and above.

Not the biggest surprise to hear that David Hockney’s largest work is proving one of the most popular at York Art Gallery. Thousands have flocked to see Bigger Trees Near Warter since it arrived in York – with 3,200 people queuing to see it on the opening day, over 1,000 per day since then and a frankly staggering 30,911 visitors through the doors in York in less than a fortnight to see the work. It’s there until June 12, so York can expect tourist numbers to be up thanks to the painting – and some question the value of investing in the arts...