HELP is needed to document the rich history of a Teesside music venue as a £1.4m revamp approaches completion.

Nestled in Stockton’s cobbled Green Dragon yard, the historic Georgian Theatre, now 250 years old, has existed in many guises over the decades.

Most recently, the intimate venue has played host to a plethora of well-known acts, including Arctic Monkeys and James Blunt.

Reinvented as a haven for live music in the early 1990s, it opened as a theatre in 1766 and has been used as a Salvation Army base, a sweet factory and a community centre.

As part of a Heritage Lottery funded refurbishment, the building – operated by the Tees Music Alliance (TMA) charity - is currently being improved and expanded.

Throughout the revamp, the TMA team have uncovered scores of artefacts, photographs and other items documenting the Georgian’s long life.

They are now appealing for the public to take part in a year-long project launched to celebrate the eclectic history of the venue – and of TMA, which began 30 years ago.

As part of the lottery funded project, those who have played a part in shaping the venue’s history are being asked to share their memories.

TMA’s chief executive Paul Burns said: “It hit home that we’d captured lots of moments in peoples’ lives and that instead of storing things away we should preserve and display as much as we could.

“We thought there must be lots of people who might have their own stories that they can share with us – maybe they’ve seen a particular band or performed here themselves.”

The team hope to gather enough material to enhance their own archive and create a digital exhibition within The Georgian Theatre documenting key moments in the building’s history as well as detailing the refurbishment process.

A series of public events will also be held as part of the lottery funded project.

  • Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the project or who has memories, pictures or videos to share should email info@teesmusicalliance.org.uk or call 01642-606525.