THE shock closure of one of the region's threatres has caused a setback for a multi-million pound musical by Elton John.

A media launch to announce the world premiere of Billy Elliot at Newcastle's Tyne Theatre has been postponed for a month.

The show, about a North-East miner's son who becomes a ballet star, was due to open at the venue in December.

A spokesman for Working Title and Old Vic Productions, which is still hunting for young performers to play the part of Billy, said yesterday that a media launch for the show's run in London's West End, in February, might have to go ahead while a decision is made about the Victorian theatre's future.

Dee McCourt, of Mark Borkowski Public Relations, which handles publicity for the musical, said: "We were still negotiating our contract with the Tyne Theatre and the closure came as a complete bolt from the blue.

"It is pandemonium at the moment, but we are still hoping to announce something about the show quite soon."

She said the venue's closure, with all 14 staff being made redundant, was a major difficulty to overcome, but added: "We have been reassured that the theatre still has a very secure future and that everything is being done to make sure that it remains open."

The show's producers had hoped to launch the Tyneside run as quickly as possible, particularly after Sunderland Empire announced ticket sales for its £2m Christmas musical Starlight Express.

Plans are still going ahead to name the young performers who will sing, dance and act as 11-year-old Billy in September.

Open auditions for the show were held at the Opera House in April and the TalentSTAR 2004 final was due to take place on Sunday, June 27, with 73 teenagers from across the region taking part.

Adam Chetter, of organiser Genius Entertainment, said: "We know only what is in the local papers. We cannot find out any information whatsoever about the venue. It is a disgrace and are deeply upset.

"More than 500 tickets for the final had been sold and all of the acts were looking forward to performing on such a grand scale."

Mr Chetter said the company was adamant the final would go ahead, but said a sponsor was urgently needed

The company, supported by the Princes Trust, said it had lost more than £2,500 as a result of the venue's closure.

It has rescheduled the show to take place at Newcastle City Hall on Saturday, June 26.

Published: 12/06/2004