Roger Rowley will be wearing his own lucky charm this week as he opens in a professional London tribute show to the rock ’n’ roll legend Buddy Holly.

Roger, 23, also played the role just over three years ago in an amateur production at Yeadon Town Hall – and when he takes to the stage in the capital he will be wearing the same unique Buddy Holly glasses that were specially made for the production back in 2006.

Roger, from Scotland Way, Horsfroth, was still studying at the Guildford School of Acting when he was picked out for the part in the professional production at the fringe theatre Upstairs at the Gatehouse.

And he decided to return to Leeds to pick up his original Buddy Holly glasses before making his professional debut as the 50s legend.

When Roger first appeared in the Grove and Rawdon Theatre Company’s production of the musical Buddy – the Buddy Holly Story he had expert help in the spectacles department.

The show’s director Royston Bayfield is also a Yeadon optician – and he used his technical expertise to re-create the iconic look.

Royston said: “We knew the show had to be as authentic as possible so as well as bringing in a rock guitarist to teach Roger the various Holly riffs, I also set about crafting two pairs of Buddy lookalike glasses.

“One was from the star’s early period and the others – the more famous ones – were like the glasses he wore towards the end of his career.”

The Yeadon show, which was a smash hit, and had people dancing in the aisles, was one of the most popular ever staged at Yeadon. Roger made such a success of the role that he landed the professional part with ease.

He said: “I open at the Gatehouse Theatre in Highgate this Friday and I am so excited. It’s such a wonderful opportunity.

“I haven’t even graduated from the Guildford School of Acting yet but they have released me specially so that I can do the show. It’s a dream come true.

“It’s three years since Royston made my Buddy Holly glasses so I came back up to Leeds to have them serviced and checked out before the curtain goes up this Friday.”

Royston said: “I was delighted to help out. I’m happy to say that the glasses were as good as the day they were made.

“Roger will be brilliant and I am sure this will be the start of even greater things to come.”

Hailed as ‘the man who changed the face of popular music’ Buddy Holly was just 22 when he died in a plane crash in 1959.

The musical which tells the story of his rise to fame is now in its 20th year and has been seen by more than 20 million people around the world.