Arts Diary: Will Marriott

Over the next few weeks visitors have the last chance to catch Museums Sheffield's latest exhibition, which appropriately explores our relationship with our ever changing environment.

Running until January 31, Can Art Save Us? looks at art's role in our quest to safeguard our planet's ecological future. Inspired by the ideas and insights of artist, scholar and Sheffield benefactor, John Ruskin, the exhibition looks at how art can make us think about the way we treat the world around us and the wider effects of our activities.

A man inspired by nature, John Ruskin brought his remarkable collection of visual art, decorative art and natural history specimens to Sheffield in the late 1800s to enrich the lives of people living in the polluted Victorian city. Ruskin not only believed that our harmonious relationship with nature was key to society's wellbeing, but was also greatly ahead of his time in his recognition of the environment as a finite resource.

We are delighted to be able to report a really heart-warming tale, at a time of the year when we could all probably really do with it. This morning, the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds is holding a special performance of Christmas show Cinderella, specifically for people with learning disabilities.

The Playhouse is staging what it calls the "relaxed" performance following a series of events for people with learning disabilities.

It will be the first time that any UK theatre has offered this kind of performance.

It is taking place at 10.30am today and will include extra staff to help with seating and access, extra lighting, a more relaxed attitude to noise, freedom to leave the auditorium at any point and eight extra wheelchair spaces.

York-born and raised Henry Bird, is returning to his Yorkshire roots with what he hopes is a role that will guarantee future stardom.

He's coming to Hull on a national tour of Bad Boy Johnny and the Profits of Doom – yes, it sounds like a joke title, but its a real show – and the one which gave a certain Russell Crowe his first break 20 years ago.

A few years ago Bird's band Kid Ego was signed and toured America. The band flopped, but Steve Steinman spotted Bird and gave him a lead role in a musical called Vampire Rock, starring opposite Toyah Willcox. Now he's taking on the leading role which gave Russell Crowe to the world.

Daniel Abineri, the man who wrote the musical and discovered Crowe's talent said: "What's great about Henry is he's got the same spark Russell had and an incredible stage presence. In 20 years' time I wouldn't be surprised if people are talking about Bad Boy Johnny as the musical that gave Henry his first big break."

We shall see. The show's at Hull New Theatre in March.