TWO well-known actresses from rival soaps got together to support a troubled theatre's recovery yesterday.

Ann Marie Davies, best known for playing Katrina Evans in Brookside, and Leila Birch, who shot to fame as Theresa di Marco in EastEnders, posed for the cameras to promote the second and third in a trilogy of plays at Durham's Gala Theatre.

Being produced by veteran actor and producer Charles Vance, they are aimed at boosting local support for the £14m venue.

Davies is currently playing Rita in Keith Waterhouse's Billy Liar, and next week Birch will star as Elizabeth in Alan Ayckbourn's Taking Steps.

Following its opening in January, the Gala Theatre suffered a major setback when its management company, The Entertainment Team, amassed huge debts. The company went into liquidation, and Durham City Council took over the Gala's running.

Last week, it emerged that the council had made manager Rob Flower redundant in a staff restructuring exercise.

Fearing Durham would lose the facility, Mr Vance stepped in to stage a repertory season, comprising the classic plays Hayfever, by Noel Coward, Billy Liar and Taking Steps.

He secured Kim Hartman, who played Helga in the well-loved comedy 'Allo 'Allo, to star in Hayfever.

Birch has appeared in a number of stage productions since leaving Eastenders, including The Taming of the Shrew in Stafford and a national tour of Agatha Christie's A Murder is Announced. She said she was glad to be involved in the Gala's recovery.

"I think each town should have a good theatre with good plays on," she said. "Alan Ayckbourn is a fantastic writer and this is a fantastic place, so I hope people will come to see this play and find it funny."

Ms Davies landed her role in Brookside straight from college and was part of the main cast until June 2001.

She said: "This is the first theatre performance I have ever done but I think the Gala is really nice. It's a shame that more people don't come."

Stage is set for young performers to make their mark

YOUNG performers are to get the chance to appear in professional Christmas shows.

Durham's Gala Theatre is looking for children aged seven to 12, for parts in Christmas Cat and the Pudding Pirates. Two teams will alternate performances, and the youngsters must be able to sing, dance and act.

Children are also needed to play the vital roles of Tiny Tim and the Cratchit children, as well as the children of townspeople, in A Christmas Carol, Gala's other Christmas show.

Auditions will be held in the Gala auditorium on Tuesday, October 29, from 9am to 6pm. Youngsters are asked to collect a form from the box office, which must be returned by Wednesday, October 23.