OSCAR-WINNING actor Russell Crowe is keeping his promise to teach drama at a North-East university.

The Gladiator and Robin Hood star posted a message on his Twitter account on Saturday saying he will be chatting to young actors at Durham University on Friday.

The New Zealand-born actor said he will also be showing members of the Durham Student Theatre (DST) a home movie.

Crowe tweeted: “On June 3rd I’ll be at Durham University chatting with young actors in the morning and screening a home movie in the evening for DTS (sic) members.”

Earlier this month, it emerged that Crowe tried to contact Durham University chancellor Bill Bryson through Twitter after he heard of his impending departure.

Mr Bryson is due to step down as chancellor this summer after six years to spend more time writing and with his family.

Crowe tweeted: “Hey Bill Bryson didn’t you promise me a knighthood if I taught drama at Durham. . . if you are leaving we need to get this done.”

The 47-year-old then told The Northern Echo: “If it so happens that I am scheduled to be somewhere near, only if the chancellor wants, then the final step is for the Drama Society (and only the DS) to come up with a compelling subject for me to chat about.”

Crowe also had a Twitter conversation with DST, saying: “There are two experiments I’d like to try on you – leadership and original thought.

“Other departments might like to witness. As I have said though, at the chancellor’s request only.”

Durham University has not widely publicised the star’s visit, but there is reference on its website to An Evening With Russell Crowe, hosted by Bill Bryson, at the Assembly Rooms Theatre.

The notice warns that the event is only open to members of DST who joined before last Wednesday and says that, although the tickets are free, they will be allocated by a random draw.

Yesterday DST was directing all media inquiries to the university’s main press office, but, commenting earlier this month, spokeswoman Sarah Peters said: “We have got such a vibrant society here it would be amazing if an Oscar-winning actor took an interest in us.”