HOW haunted is Darlington's Civic Theatre? Well it's certainly worth further investigation, according to the Yorkshire Psychic Investigators team who spent an eerie night in the building last month.

Inspired by a run of Noel Coward's comedy Blithe Spirit, the ghosthunters claim to have captured the spirit of the theatre's first manager Signor Pepi in the dress circle and spirits active on the fly floor and in dressing room 12.

Performing arts officer Lynda Winstanley, who books performers for the theatre and the town's Arts Centre, has risen to the challenge and added a chiller play to the new autumn season.

She says: "A lot of people say they like good thrillers and there aren't going to be many better than The Haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins which stars Brian Blessed, and he's a big presence by himself."

The storyline of the play, which runs from September 20-25, involves spirits coming alive in a theatre.

This will fit nicely with the full ghosthunt report to be posted shortly on www.yorkshire psychicinvestigators.co.uk

According to the theatre's press and marketing officer Kathryn Goodfellow, the psychics are keen to return on a special occasion or when a ballet or opera company are performing.

"Apparently these are the best times for ghostly goings-on," she says.

As the theatre experiments with just a two-week break this year, between Dial M For Murder (August 10-14) and ever-popular Willy Russell musical Blood Brothers (September 6-11), one spirited artist makes an annual return.

Veteran comic Ken Dodd is likely to be a certain sell-out for the nights of October 7-9 and has a special relationship with Darlington audiences.

The Haunted Hotel is part of a four-play discount deal alongside the appealing Going Straight (October 18-13) offering a rare opportunity to see husband and wife actors Pauline Collins and John Alderton; actor-writer Simon Williams stars in Nobody's Fool (November 9-13) while Tony Britton takes on the demanding Arthur Miller drama The Crucible (November 16-20).

The Crucible is the latest production involving The Touring Consortium - in which Darlington is a partner - which aims to assist GCSE and A-level drama study and attract younger audiences to the theatre.

With last week's performances of Joseph setting new records and December's panto with Cannon And Ball ahead of target there is no sign of ghosts putting the wind up ticket-buyers this year.

l For box office information and tickets ring: (0325) 486555.

Published: 22/07/2004