COUNTY Durham's oldest theatre is enjoying a renaissance after major restructuring.

The Empire Theatre in Consett re-opened last March after a troubled, nine-month refurbishment programme.

Since the overhaul, audience figures have soared, takings are up and running costs have been cut.

Theatre manager Nick Wiggins said: "Part of the success is down to putting on more shows, but the average audience for each show has gone up considerably as well."

Marketing manager Sue Fox said: "The quality of the programme is much improved. A few years ago we would have been reluctant to try to sell anything priced above £10 a ticket.

"Now we have the Moscow Ballet La Classique at £17-a- ticket and it is selling out."

Refurbishment of the Empire, which has the largest cinema screen in the North-East, was meant to last six months and cost £700,000.

However, builders discovered rising damp, and the extra work caused a three-month delay and saw costs escalate to about £1m.

But the revamp is already proving its worth. In 2001/02, the last full year the theatre was open, total attendance figures for live events stood at 12,956. Already this year, it has more than doubled to 30,000. The cinema audience has also risen, from 23,000 to 26,500.

The refurbishment included a downstairs bar and lounge, 514 new seats with extra leg room, plus a new sound system and stage lighting. The film projector was upgraded, the bar made more spacious and the foyer expanded.

Moving the bar downstairs and giving it a more caf-style theme has seen takings rocket from £8,200 in 2001/02 to £36,000 this financial year.

It has proved so successful that it is now also open in the daytime, serving snacks and hot drinks.

Having a new interior has reduced running costs and, with extra cash from theatre-goers, the venue is now less of a drain on the taxpayer.

Its subsidy from Derwentside District Council for next year is already set at 17 per cent lower than last year, at £60,000.