Stage set for Gala's new era

The team behind the Civic Theatre and Darlington Arts Centre, both owned by Darlington Borough Council, will manage the £14m venue for 12 months before handing over to new managers appointed by Durham City Council.

The city council has been running the Gala since the collapse of the Entertainment Team (Durham) Ltd, the firm hired to run it, with debts of £700,000.

The council said it did not have expertise in theatre management and hoped the year of 'locum' management will teach it valuable lessons.

Meanwhile, the theatre's losses continue to grow and council tax payers, facing a possible nine per cent increase in bills, will have to pay an estimated £700,000 this financial year for the Gala.

The architect of the Millennium development, which inc*udes the theatre, chief executive Colin Shearsmith, and theatre manager Janice Marthen, left the council recently.

The council's Lib Dem leader Sue Pitts said: "We haven't got the management of the theatre right and that's a matter of great importance.

"We have signed a management agreement to have it run on a baby-sitting basis which we can learn from.

"We had several companies offering us advice and we picked the Civic as the best. It was one of three organisations that put in bids. They have a very good track record and they also run an arts centre, which in many ways is close to what the Gala is.

"They are local, know the area and know the audience."

The council, which also plans to set up an advisory board, hopes better management will reduce the pressure on the public purse.

Coun Pitts said the loss for December, when the Christmas pantomime was expected to be a big earner, was 'a huge disappointment' and was caused partly by rising costs.

Former city councillor and mayor Joe Anderson wants a public inquiry into the development of the Gala and the collapse of the Entertainment Team (Durham) Ltd.

Police are examining claims by the former directors to see if they warrant a formal investigation.