Arts Diary: Will Marriott

There were many stars there – and not just on stage – Henry Goodman, John Simm and Christopher Hampton were just some of the famous names in the audience. Our favourite part of the evening, though, was the look of embarrassment on the face of Daniel Evans.

After the show, An Enemy of the People, finished, the theatre remained full of people enjoying the free sparkling wine on offer. The diminutive Welshman, Evans, took to the stage in front of the assembled crowd and said into a microphone in his sing-song valleys accent: "Hello, I'm Daniel Evans, artistic director of the Crucible."

Cue much applause, cheers, shouting that went on for a good 30 seconds. It was a hearty welcome to the new artistic director, and his slight embarrassment at the reception was as sweet as it was touching.

We love it when one of our artistic companies puts its money where its mouth is. The brilliant Opera North is always taking about bringing opera to new audiences – and if it can't get the audiences to come to its home at the Grand Theatre in Leeds, then it is happy to go to them.

Earlier this week, the stars from the company's La Bohme went out into the community to give a live performance to the members at Richmond Hill Elderly Action, in Leeds.

The performers wore evening dress, and a custom-built theatre stage was installed to bring the show to life for the Friendship Group, a Leeds-based independent charity, which encourages people of retirement age to get together and have some fun.

The hour-long mini opera performance was put on as part of Yorkshire Bank's sponsorship of Opera North and the La Bohme production, which is at the Leeds Grand this month.

BBC Radio 4's Any Questions? is coming to Leeds to fill the Howard Assembly Room at the Grand Theatre with debate, discussion and deliberation.

The guest panel is set to include Conservative politician and shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague, Labour's Schools Secretary Ed Balls, Telegraph columnist Simon Heffer and Green MEP Caroline Lucas.

With speculation that the date of the General election will be announced on March 18, this event could well be the first opportunity for the public to put election questions to the panel.

Free tickets to be in the audience for the programme on Friday, March 19, are available by calling the Opera North switchboard on 0113 243 9999.

Wannabe Victoria Woods and budding Russell Brands have the chance to learn the fine art of comedy from the experts tomorrow when the Graves Gallery, Sheffield, plays host to its very own comedy masterclass.

To coincide with the close of the exhibition, Comedians: From the 1940s to Now, currently on tour from the National Portrait Gallery, Perrier Award-winner Arnold Brown and the voice of TV's Spitting Image, Steve Nallon will host a two-hour workshop offering top tips on comedy performance.

For tickets or more information, phone 0114 278 2655 or email [email protected]