A VISIT to the theatre was more than another civic engagement for a city's mayor.

For the family of Durham's first citizen, Councillor Ray Gibbon, were out in force at the city's Gala Theatre for opening night of West Side Story.

They were there to support Matthew Gent, who is taking part in the Gala Theatre Stage School's version of the 1950s American musical.

Coun Gibbon is Matthew's great- uncle and the family had planned to be in the audience long before he received his call up to civic office, following the Liberal Democrats' local election victory in May.

But together with his wife Margaret, the mayoress, he was happy to make it a civic and family occasion, going back stage to wish Matthew and the rest of the 50 members of the cast well, helping them to overcome any first night nerves.

Matthew, 17, plays the part of 'Action', a member of the Jets in the musical about feuding gangs in the west side of New York.

Coun Gibbon said: "They've been preparing for this for months now and we were always going to come along to watch first night as a family to support Matthew."

West Side Story is the first major production of the Gala's in-house stage school, set up last year by director Lisa Thorner and assistant Katie Sorahan to give aspiring actors the chance to perform in a professional setting.

Summer workshops will be held at the theatre by the stage school for existing or new members from next month.

West Side Story runs nightly, from 7.30pm, until Saturday when there is also a 2.30pm matinee.

Tickets, costing £10, are available from the box office, on 0191-332 4041.

Details about the stage school and its summer workshops are available from Ms Thorner, on 0191-332 4054.