A MARKET town's sports hall has been transformed into a theatre for the first leg of the Royal Shakespeare Company's international tour.

Five articulated wagons, carrying more than 50 tonnes of lighting, sound and stage equipment, arrived in Northallerton during the weekend in order to create the 510-seat mobile auditorium.

Britain's leading theatre company will take to the stage tonight at the Hambleton Leisure Centre, Stone Cross, for its opening performance of Coriolanus.

Everything from the lighting rig, seating, washing machine and costumes will be housed in the sports hall to create a theatre space for the production.

Richard Clayton, RSC company manager, said: "So far, things have gone very smoothly. About 13 of the leisure centre staff are working hard alongside the RSC technical crew and stage management team.

"With this being the first venue on the tour, it takes a little bit longer to set it all up - we always encounter some teething problems. On Tuesday the sound and lighting design crews will spend time ensuring that everything will happen at the right time and in the right place."

The RSC will be performing Coriolanus and The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Centre until Saturday.