A CONSULTATION event will be held in January, for people keen to have their say on ambitious plans for the multi-million pound refurbishment of a North-East theatre.

Darlington Borough Council wants to revamp Darlington Civic Theatre in a project that would see it close to the public for more than a year – reopening under the new name of Darlington Hippodrome.

The project – which is dependant on funding grants from the Arts Council and Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) – also includes the building of a dedicated children's theatre, The Hullaballoon.

A drop-in session will take place in the reception area of the Dolphin Centre on Wednesday, January 13, from 1pm to 7pm.

Plans will be on show at the event and the designers will be on hand to answer any questions.

The council has received initial support from the HLF to restore Darlington Civic Theatre and Theatre Hullabaloo has also received initial support from the Arts Council to convert a former fire station and residential property to a theatre for children and young people.

For those who cannot make the drop-in session, the proposals for the refurbished Civic Theatre and The Hullaballoon can be viewed online.

Comments need to be received by Friday, January 15 and will be considered by the designers as they finalise the scheme.

Finalised plans will be submitted to the council for consideration on Wednesday, January 20.

Comments can be sent to: Capital.ProjectsOffice@darlington.gov.uk or alternatively by post to: Head of Capital Projects and Design, Town Hall, Darlington, DL1 5QT.

A first-round pass means the project meets HLF criteria for funding and HLF believes the project has potential to deliver high-quality benefits and value for Lottery money.

The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so a first-round pass is an endorsement of outline proposals. Having been awarded a first-round pass, the project now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award.