Alice Jones' Arts Diary: Watch out: here come more posh boys who look set to conquer the world

Posh

Are Posh boys the new History Boys?

The last time a gang of fresh-faced young actors appeared in a West End hit they went on to conquer the world. Now James Corden, Dominic Cooper et al have successors in the shape of the Riot Clubbers in Laura Wade's politically piquant play about an Oxbridge drinking society. The play premiered at the Royal Court in 2010 and six of the original 10 have returned for the West End run, having landed a glut of roles in the meantime. Tom Mison, last seen in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, is soon to appear in the BBC/HBO mini-series Parade's End – as is Henry Lloyd-Hughes who also stars opposite Simon Pegg in A Fantastic Fear of Everything and in Joe Wright's Anna Karenina. Jolyon Coy, last seen in The Deep Blue Sea, will pop up in the BBC's Henry IV with Jeremy Irons; and Leo Bill, Trinity in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, will return for the next two in the trilogy. Elsewhere, Joshua McGuire has played Isaac Wengrow in The Hour, and Richard Goulding made his film debut in The Iron Lady. The crème de la crème indeed.

Little relief from royalty as Vine makes art in Hay

Stella Vine is preparing a new piece to mark the Jubilee which will include a "dash of royalty". Next Friday morning, at Hay's How the Light Gets In festival, the artist will embark on a 12-hour painting marathon. The finished 4m by 6m canvas will form the backdrop for a gig that night by The Chapman Family who will perform songs from their new alt-rock album Cruel Britannia and a cover of "Everyday is like Sunday", by ardent anti-monarchist Morrissey. Vine will paint from 10am to 10pm in the International tent. "I don't like painting in studios, I tend to paint on the sofa", she says. "Next week, I'll be on a table and using ladders." As for the subject matter, there will be at least one royal: "I also want to paint [Rebekah] Brooks. I soak up what's happening around me but I end up coming back to Princess Diana and Wonder Woman. Some people push more buttons."

All creatures great and small find a champion in Germaine Greer

Not content with saving women from patriarchal oppression, Germaine Greer is moving on to saving the planet. She will deliver a secular sermon about man's destruction of the environment at the School of Life in London on 22 July, demonstrating "how helping to pull back even the tiniest creature from the brink of extinction brings the true heart's ease." As with any Sunday service, there will also be "hymns" chosen by Greer and refreshments.

Noel Clark's leading ladies sprint for glory

It might be the speediest cast ever caught on camera. Fast Girls, the hugely enjoyable new film from Noel Clarke (and co-writers Roy Williams and Jay Basu), is a Bend it Like Beckham for 2012, following the fortunes of rival female sprinters on the British relay team. While the leads, played by Lenora Crichlow and Lily James, were put on strict fitness and dietary regimes to get in shape, their team-mate Rachel, played by Hannah Frankson, was born to play the part. Frankson is the UK's under-23 triple-jump champion, now hoping to qualify for London 2012. Katharine Merry, 400m bronze medallist at the Sydney games, also puts in a cameo as a commentator – but you'll have to be super quick (sorry) to spot her.

a.jones@independent.co.uk