THE North-East's newest theatre will be launched next year with world premieres by top playwrights.

The first productions will be staged at Durham City's £14m Gala theatre, part of the £30m Millennium City development, in January, after an official launch a month earlier.

Game Plan and Flat Spin, written and directed by Scarborough's Sir Alan Ayckbourn, will be followed in May by Good Grief, written by Keith Waterhouse and directed by Ned Sherrin, presenter of Radio 4's Loose Ends, who attended the scheme's launch yesterday.

The 550-seater hall will double as a conference centre, and will be the city's first proper theatre.

Durham City Council is backing the scheme, which is part-funded by the Millennium Commission.

London-based theatre and event management firm The Entertainment Team has won the three-year contract to run the venue. It is promising a mix of top quality dramatic and musical productions, plus local and regional shows.

Durham City Council leader Maurice Crathorne said: "I am delighted we are able to pay homage to the Miners' Galas, which are a distinctive part of our history, while giving the people of Durham a remarkable venue for the future.''

Ned Sherrin told a press conference in Durham yesterday that he was impressed by the "wonderful wave of enthusiasm'' for the new venue.