A £140,000 funding boost has been granted to support audiences of children visiting the new Theatre Hullabaloo.

The site, which is attached to the Darlington Hippodrome within the former Edwardian fire station, is currently under construction and due to open in December as the only specialist theatre of its type outside London.

The substantial grant has been given by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to cover the cost of programmes designed to engage youngsters.

Hullaballo will include a 150-seat studio theatre, creative play installation space, café area, workshop/ rehearsal space, dressing rooms, toilets and external play space.

Miranda Thain, creative producer at the theatre, said: “This financial support, from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, is so important to the theatre and will enable us to put The Hullabaloo on the map nationally and internationally throughout a mind-blowingly inspiring three-year opening programme of work.

“The funding means that the activity offered at The Hullabaloo in those crucial first years of opening its doors will be of the same quality and ambition as the building itself."

A spokeswoman for the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation said: "We fund exceptional organisations developing timely and innovative approaches that will result in a better experience for artists, audiences and participants.

“We wish Theatre Hullabaloo every success in creating lasting opportunities for young audiences in the North East to experience high-quality theatre, creative learning and participation.”