AMBITIOUS multi-million pound plans for the refurbishment – and renaming – of one of the region's oldest theatres are to go before councillors in the new year.

The proposals – which are subject to external funding being granted by both the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council – will see Darlington Civic Theatre close at the end of May.

By the time it re-opens, in the autumn of 2017, the grade II-listed will have been transformed into a 1,000-seat venue capable of attracting bigger shows than ever before.

Plans have also been drawn up to open a children's theatre – operated by Theatre Hullabaloo, the company that brought theatre to youngsters in Darlington Arts Centre, prior to its closure in 2012 – in a former fire station and carpet warehouse round the corner in Borough Road.

Called The Hullaballoon, the children's theatre will be a partnership between Theatre Hullabaloo and Darlington Borough Council, which runs the Civic.

It also also planned to rename the Civic Theatre as Darlington Hippodrome, a nod to the venue's heritage; it opened in 1907 as the New Hippodrome and Palace of Varieties.

The planned refurbishment of the Civic also includes:

* increasing the number of seats from 893 to 1,000 – a milestone that producers look for when taking their shows on tour;

* Demolishing the current box office and building a main entrance, including a glass atrium, in its place;

* Improving access for disabled people throughout the building – access is currently limited to the ground floor;

* Demolishing the conservatory to enable joining up with The Hullaballoon;

* Improved facilities for performers, making use of space created by the purchase of two adjacent vacant shop units.

Theatre director Lynda Winstanley said: "I think there's an opportunity to celebrate the start of a new era for the theatre, to celebrate its heritage and create a strong brand.

"What makes this theatre special and worthy of this work to take place is the wonderful vibrant identity it brings to the cultural offer in Darlington; it is a major part of Darlington's story."

A report detailing the proposed refurbishment and building programme has been prepared for members of the council's cabinet, ahead of a meeting in the new year.

It describes the proposals as the creation of a 'theatre quarter' for Darlington.

Cabinet members are being asked to approve a series of recommendations made by officers, to enable the project to move forward.

These include allocating an extra £140,000 from the sale of the former Arts Centre to help fund The Hullaballoon.

The £1 'restoration levy' applied on most ticket sales is likely to be doubled after the theatre re-opens, to provide further project funding.

The cabinet meets on January 5 and decisions on the Arts Council and Heritage Lottery Fund elements of the project funding are expected in February and March respectively.

A public consultation on the development will take place on Wednesday, January 13, from 1pm to 7pm, the the reception area of the Dolphin Centre.

Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for leisure and environment, said: “This joint project to refurbish the Civic Theatre and create The Hullaballoon will develop a Theatre Quarter in the borough.

“I also think it’s brilliant that we have a proposal to return to the name Darlington Hippodrome, which was its name for the first 60 years of its existence.

It will underline the newly refurbished theatre’s potential and most treasured aspects of this historic building.

“The project represents a major investment to deliver a theatre that customers and performers will enjoy, and will ensure the theatre’s future for generations to come.

“It is an exciting scheme that reinforces Darlington’s commitment to culture at a time when funding for such services is under great pressure.”