A second screen has opened at a Durham cinema.

The Blue Room has been created in a vacant space alongside the main cinema complex at Durham's Gala Theatre.

Theatre director Simon Stallworthy said the 72-seat auditorium will allow the Gala to show a wider range of films and also provide a venue for arts events, conferences and parties.

He said: "The Blue Room is a fantastic new space we can utilise in the Gala. We'll be looking to broaden the range of films we can offer, to include more foreign language and independent films."

Small-scale dances could be held, as the Blue Room has a wooden sprung floor, and it could host conferences.

It was launched yesterday by visiting actors Christopher Patrick Nolan and Martin Jenkins, stars of the comedy Stones In His Pockets, running at the Gala this week.

The duo play all the characters in the show, set in a small town in Ireland chosen as the set for a movie blockbuster by a Hollywood film studio.

They took time out from two performances yesterday to toast the Blue Room with a pint of Ireland's favourite stout. The play runs until Saturday, with curtain up at 7.30pm each night, and 2pm on Saturday.

Ticket details and information about screenings are available from the Gala box office on 0191-332 4041.

Published: 05/05/2005