WORK starts next week on a £4m project to turn a North-East theatre into one of the UK's leading playhouses.

The Empire Theatre in Sunderland will be transformed in the overhaul, which starts on Monday.

Bosses at Sunderland Council, which owns the venue, claim it will become the only theatre in the North-East capable of staging lavish West End productions.

Council leader Bob Symonds said: "This is one of the most exciting developments to take place in the city this decade. Once the work is finished, the Empire will be the only major theatre between Manchester and Edinburgh capable of staging big West End productions like Les Miserables.

"Miss Saigon is already lined up for a record breaking seven weeks next January and I'm confident many other major West End productions will follow."

Work will involve extending the stage, increasing the height of the fly tower at the back of the theatre and upgrading technology.

There will also be an air cooling system for the auditorium, a fully integrated fire alarm and voice evacuation system, upgraded dressing rooms and a number of other improvements to enable the building to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Most of the funding will come from the city council, which is investing almost £2m in the refurbishment. A further £1.1m will come from Clear Channel Entertainment, which runs the theatre, with the remaining £1.5m being provided by regional development agency, One NorthEast.

Published: 16/04/2004