DESIGNS for the multi-million pound refurbishment of Darlington Civic Theatre and the creation of a new children’s theatre have been unveiled.

The plans went on display at the Dolphin Centre today (Wednesday, January 13) and officials answered queries about the scheme which will see the Civic close for more than a year whilst a full refurbishment and improvement programme takes place.

In addition to the Civic plans, the public were also able to see how the new children’s theatre, Hullaballoon, will look at the old fire station adjacent to the Civic.

Theatre director Lynda Winstanley said that extensive consultations with theatre-goers and the general public had helped shape the plans.

She said: “Because of the scale and ambition of the project we are able to tackle all of the priorities really as best we can and address the things that people have suggested to us would be important for them and the future of the theatre.

“Hopefully we will have gone a good way towards incorporating people’s priorities.”

Improved disabled access and better sight lines from the seats are among the improvements being made to the theatre’s interior.

The seating capacity is also being increased to 1,000 and the technology and backstage areas updated, meaning that the Civic could attract bigger shows to Darlington.

There have been some concerns expressed by the public about the length of the theatre’s closure during the work, but Ms Winstanley is confident that regular audiences will return once it reopens as the Darlington Hippodrome in autumn 2017.

She said: “Our plan is to keep a good level of information going out to audiences on our website and social media, but also to try and put together an activity programme that will still engage the audiences that we have and hopefully engage new audiences when we reopen.

“That work will be important but I feel sure that people will be very, very excited to see the theatre when it does reopen.”

Ms Winstanley added that the scale of the work necessitated the lengthy closure.

Among those attending the consultation was Darlington resident Kath Greaves who was impressed with the plans.

She said: “You have to spend money to get money back and the town needs people coming in.”

If, as expected, the theatre receives Heritage Lottery Funding - having already received an endorsement of outline proposals - the venue will close in May this year for the work to start.

Comments on the scheme can be sent to Capital.ProjectsOffice@darlington.gov.uk until Friday.