QUALITY drama, opera, ballet, music and comedy will be on offer at Darlington Civic Theatre in the autumn, but amid the regular fare is tucked a new line in entertainment aimed at ethnic minority audiences as well as regular patrons.

Following on from Journey to the West in May, which filled the foyer at the Civic with the sights and smells of an Indian bazaar, are three Asian shows scheduled for the arts centre.

The aim - helped by funding from national and regional arts sources worth £35,000 over two years - is to reach out to new audiences, coupled with workshops and educational packs, while providing an opportunity for western theatregoers to sample the music, dance and drama of other cultures.

It might seem like a response to the events of September 11 last year, but is in fact coincidental, and follows a major review by the Arts Council that has led to specific grants in this field beng awarded by regional arts boards.

Said Lynda Winstanley, in charge of arts centre programming: "Part of the aim is to encourage the talents of performers from ethnic backgrounds and to do more to give them a platform, because there are not that many Asian companies who tour mid- and small-scale shows.

"It is also linked to learning about other cultures, about how, for example, movement is used quite differently to the conventions of western drama."

The venture places Darlington within a growing trend for Asian culture, characterised by such things as the Bollywood phenomenon, Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest musical, Bombay Dreams, now a nightly sell-out, and the popular films East is East and Monsoon Wedding.

"We will be working to formulate relationships with members of the Asian community in Darlington and neighbouring towns," said Ms Winstanley.

The first of the three shows is This is Your Life Mr. Funjabi by the UK's favourite Asian comedy group on September 7; it is about a messed up kid caught between two cultures: curry and lager.

Taj, on October 22 and 23, is by an Asian theatre company that draws on Moghul art and poetry to create a sensual experience while telling the story of the ghost empress of the Taj Mahal.

Drama, dance and music combine in The Mahabharatha billed for November 5, with spectacular costumes, make-up that takes four hours to apply - some as part of the action - and expressive use of the eyes to tell an epic Indian story.

Meanwhile, the autumn season at the Civic follows conventional lines, ranging from London City Opera's production of Madam Butterfly (September 10 and 11) to the annual crowd-puller, Ken Dodd (October 15-17).

Drama includes a comedy whodunnit, Corpse (October 1-5), starring Mark McGann, Colin Baker and Louise Jameson; Don't Dress for Dinner (October 8-12) by Ian Dickens Productions, whose summer repertory season has just ended; the Graham Greene comedy Travels With My Aunt starring Gary Wilmot, Clive Francis, Jeffrey Holland and Andrew Grenough (November 5-9); and Arthur Miller's gripping tragedy View from the Bridge by Touring Consortium, starring James Hazeldine and Sorcha Cusack.

The season also brings Bill Kenwright's Rock 'n' Roll Heaven (September 16-21), a puppet show for children aged four to seven, Winnie the Witch (September 25-28), Su Pollard in Annie - the musical (November 19-23) and Moscow Ballet with Swan Lake (November 25-27).

Travel is a recurring theme at the arts centre which is now a regional base for the Royal Geographical Society whose speakers include wildlife programme producer, Dr Martha Holmes, and Steven Venables on his expedition in the footsteps of Ernest Shackleton, plus a return by Peter McCarthy, talking about his pilgrimage from Cork to Morocco, New York to Tasmania, and Tony Hawkes recounting his latest bet, to have a top ten hit anywhere in the world, whose journey took him from Nashville to Albania.

Drama highlights include The Butcher's Skin, a Vietnamese comedy of mistaken identity using music and puppetry, Mojo Mickeybo, a drama about two boys set in Seventies' Belfast, and The Love Child by Red Shift Theatre Company.

Music ranges from Jacqueline Dankworth and Field of Blue to Folk Like Us, R3 Tenors, the Albion Band, Tommy Emmanual, the Kate Rusby Trio and Lindisfarne.

Dance ranges from Spanish fire in Jaleo to modern and street dance in Life in Urban Classicism, a ballet version of The Taming of the Shrew, contemporary pieces by teesdanceinitiative and a visit by Walker Dance with three works including one premiere.

Children are catered for with The Magic of the Mummy, for ages five to 11; Sea of Silence for seven-plus; and an adaptation by Thtre Sans Frontires of the Lewis Carroll story, Alice, as new year treat in January.

For full details of all shows, including the jazz season, rhythm and blues concerts and the classical music line-up, ring box office on 01325 486555 or pick up a brochure at the usual outlets.