Roger Rowley first stepped into Buddy Holly’s shoes on stage at Yeadon Town Hall.

Now the young Horsforth actor is once again playing the man who changed the face of popular music – and last night he had a delighted audience bopping in the aisles at the Alhambra.

Roger headed a talented cast of actor musicians telling Buddy’s story during the pivotal three years in his life, from his rise to fame to his final performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, hours before the fateful plane crash that took his life, aged just 22.

The show raced along at a cracking pace, with a country music radio loop setting the scene for 1950s Texas, rolling on to New York where the real-life audience took on the role of the Harlem Apollo crowd the Crickets won over with their frantic rock ‘n’ roll.

The tightly-knitted band whipped up an infectious energy, delivering timeless hits – Peggy Sue, That’ll Be The Day, Oh Boy, Rave On, Heartbeat, Everyday and Raining In My Heart – that had the audience singing along. Roger shone as Buddy, capturing his geeky charm, steely determination, and the performance ticks and distinctive voice that enthralled four Liverpool lads who went on to form their own band.

His scenes with Felicity Chilver as his devoted wife Maria Elena were touchingly convincing, as was the brotherly love he shared with the Crickets, until the rock 'n' roll lifestyle kicked in and led to the parting.

Strong performances too from Melissa Keyes in a range of scene-stealing roles, Steve Dorsett as the Big Bopper and Miguel Angel as Ritchie Valens.

The sudden change of tone towards the end – when the joyous Winter Dance Party concert abruptly comes to a halt, plunging the stage into darkness – is all the more poignant when you consider that Buddy Holly himself once performed just a few yards from the Alhambra.

Rave on, Buddy. Runs until Saturday.