A HOUSE will be turning red alongside other buildings in the North-East to highlight how the events industry is struggling in the face of Covid.

A Darlington house will be lit up red at 8pm on Wednesday, September 30, as part of a international effort by the live events sector calling for urgent support to survive the pandemic.

The initiate, led by the We Make Events, has 235 registered buildings on board. This includes The Tyne Theatre & Opera House to The O2.

Redmire Close resident Paul Ferry, who owns light company Ultrasound Events and is lighting his house red, said: "It is important to highlight the huge amount of damage that has been done to the event and music industry during the pandemic.

"With venues being forced to close and events not being allowed to happen, thousands of businesses and staff have not been allowed to work.

"If all of these people moved on and pursued different careers to pay their bills, then even when theatres and venues are allowed to open, there may be no skilled professionals there for events to go ahead."

The event will take place at 8pm local time in over 20 countries,

Peter Heath, Managing Director of industry trade association Professional Lighting and Sound Association welcome the announcement of the new job support schemes in the UK but calls for further measures.

"This will provide a measure of relief for our industry but with the increased restrictions that have been announced, it looks unlikely that we will be able to return to work in a financially viable way within the next six months" he said.

“This means that the majority of business’s in our sector will not be able to generate sufficient revenue to support their contribution towards employees’ salaries, nor will they be able to contract in the huge self-employed community within the industry.

“Therefore, the We Make Events campaign will continue with its program of activity until the detail of the announcement is fully clear and how it impacts on our industry.”