THE curtain will go up next week on a new production by a County Durham theatre club, which was threatened by extinction

After 15 months of searching for a suitable hall to stage its productions, the 28-year-old Glenholme Theatre Club, of Crook, has finally found a new home.

It will be presenting the comedy, Funny Money, by Ray Cooney, at the town's Masonic Hall on April 12, 13, 14 and 16.

"It's fair to say we were in danger of remaining in the theatrical wilderness," said men's hairdresser Bernard Lally, a long-serving member of the club.

"The Masonic Hall has kindly given us permission to put on our productions, and it certainly fits the bill."

The club had to cancel its Christmas pantomime last year after it lost the use of the Elite Hall, in Crook, after financial cutbacks made by Wear Valley District Council.

Other amateur theatre groups in the area - notably the Music Makers, at Wolsingham and Phoenix Players, at Stanhope - have had to re-locate productions because of a lack of suitable venues.

They have been staging some of their productions at the recently refurbished Town Hall, at St John's Chapel.

"The biggest bonus for us in finding a suitable hall is that we can now look forward to presenting our panto season again this Christmas," said Mr Lally.

* Tickets for Funny Money, which is being staged at 7pm each night, are available from Jill's newsagents and Bernard Lally's hairdressers, in Crook, or on (01388) 762436.

Published: ??/??/2004