COUNCIL chiefs will begin the new year in consultation with staff affected by the planned closure of a North-East theatre for refurbishment.

Darlington Civic Theatre is expected to close at the end of May ahead of a multi-million pound facelift, which will include the building of a new children's theatre on an adjacent site.

The ambitious project is subject to funding grants from both the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England, as well as approval from members of Darlington Borough Council, which runs the Civic.

Dozens of people are employed at the Civic on a casual and part-time basis, with the equivalent of about 40 full-time members of staff on the venue's books.

A report prepared for members of the council's cabinet, ahead of a meeting on January 5, outlines the 'HR implications' of the project.

It states: "It is anticipated that the Civic Theatre will close at the end of May 2016, reopening in the autumn of 2017.

"Full consultation will be entered into with unions and employees in the New Year.

"On reopening, the theatre will do so with a new staffing structure and recruitment to key roles will commence later [in the year], with a view to starting 2017 with a full complement of staff being in post at least one month prior to opening, to allow familiarisation and training."

One subject for the consultation is likely to be what will happen to those staff employed at the Civic during the anticipated closure, which is expected to last well in excess of 12 months.

Theatre director Lynda Winstanley said plans are afoot for a series of community theatre events in unusual locations around Darlington – such as the Dolphin Centre's grand Central Hall – during the closure of the Civic.

It remains to be seen whether any theatre staff likely to be affected by the planned temporary closure of the Civic – which is set to be renamed Darlington Hippodrome when it reopens following restoration – will find a role in these productions.