ONE of the region’s leading theatres will re-open on April 22 after a £4.1million redevelopment project.

York Theatre Royal will re-open with the world premiere of Bryony Lavery's newly commissioned stage adaptation of Brideshead Revisited.

The new adaptation of the Evelyn Waugh classic is a co-production between the Theatre Royal and English Touring Theatre, one that will be taken on tour after the Theatre Royal premiere.

Director Damien Cruden said the T series and the 2008 film of Brideshead gave the story an instant appeal as both used nearby Castle Howard as the main location.

"I do think it's a pertinent piece of storytelling. It's an exciting story, a sexy story, a great story," said Mr Cruden.

"It's Downton Abbey with knobs on, and we are always fascinated by the notion of an elite group of people, the elitism of the aristocracy and their stately homes.

“That's why we traipse around National Trust houses, giving us access to them and being amazed by what it was like to live in those houses.”