Darlington Borough Council’s Cabinet has agreed to release funds to progress a £12m theatre development project.
The project will involve the refurbishment of the Civic Theatre and the development of a new children’s theatre centre, The Hullabloon, by Theatre Hullabaloo in the old fire station adjacent to the Civic.
The total cost of the theatre refurbishment will be £12m, which is made up of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £5m, sponsorship and a £2 levy per ticket on all shows after the re-opening, except for dedicated children’s shows and the panto.
The theatre will also be renamed, reverting to its original title, the Darlington Hippodrome.
The Cabinet also agreed to increase the council contribution to the Hullabaloon project from £660,000 to £800,000, which is money from the sale of Darlington Arts Centre where the company was based until its closure.