THE finals of a contest to find the best young performers in the North-East has been saved.

The finale of the talent-STAR 2004 competition was in doubt after the Tyne Theatre and Opera House, in Newcastle, which was due to hold the event, unexpectedly shut its doors.

Despite losing more than £2,500 in lost ticket sales and the booking fee for the venue, organisers were determined the show must go on.

Yesterday, they secured Newcastle City Hall for the finals, which will now take place on Saturday, June 26.

Adam Chetter, head of development at talentSTAR, said: "The last seven days have been a nightmare.

"Fortunately, the city hall has taken us on. But we have to totally restructure the whole planning process, from sound and lighting plans to stage management and budgeting.

"What normally would take four months to plan is having to be done in the next nine days."

The talentSTAR competition started in October last year.

It takes place in 50 venues across the North-East in a Pop Idol-style event, with about 2,500 school-age children performing.

This year's final was scheduled to take place in the Opera House on Sunday, June 27, with 73 teenagers from across the region taking part. However, the venue closed without warning last Thursday.

Although production costs for the event have more than doubled, Genius Entertainment, which runs talent-STAR, has decided to freeze the ticket prices at £8 for adults and £6 for concessions.

But the 500 people who had already bought tickets for the Opera House will have to pay out again for tickets for the new venue.

Tickets for the final are due go on sale today, from 10.30am.

Genius Entertainment is still looking for a corporate sponsor for the event.

Anyone interested is asked to call Mr Chetter on (01207) 236555

Published: 18/06/2004