Twenty-year-old chef Richard Kolowsky has stepped in to play the role of Tony in the forthcoming production of The Boyfriend' at Guiseley Theatre when Guiseley Amateur Operatic Society (GAOS) lost their leading man.

Richard is a chef at the Braken Fox in Scarcroft but is hopeful that he'll go to drama school in the near future.

He said: "I found out about The Boyfriend' with GAOS when I auditioned for two roles with another society. The audition panellists passed my details to GAOS and I received a phone call asking me to audition for Tony in The Boyfriend'.

"I ended up getting the role and I've found them to be a very professional and committed society and generally a lovely bunch of people!"

Richard first got into shows at school. "When I was at Boston Spa High School I was persuaded to audition, previously being a budding musician in a band. I ended up getting the lead in Godspell' and since that experience with theatre I was hooked."

"I started looking for more shows to audition for whilst I was at sixth form. I'm looking forward to performing at the end of February."

The character Tony is the son of a wealthy aristocrat who is working as a messenger boy in Nice after running away from Oxford mid-term. He meets and falls in love with Polly, a pupil at Madame Dubonnet's finishing school.

The GAOS production of The Boyfriend' is on at Guiseley Theatre from Monday, February 25, to Saturday, March 1.

Richard will be joined by a cast of over 20 Amateurs bringing the French Riviera to Guiseley. The production includes show stoppers Won't You Charleston With Me', I Could Be Happy With You' and, of course, The Boyfriend'.

Tickets: Monday £7.50 stalls, £8.50 circle. Tuesday to Saturday (including a Saturday matinee) adults £9 stalls, £10 circle and concessions £7.50 stalls, £8.50 circle (plus 11th ticket free for every ten tickets bought in a block). Telephone 08453 705045.