THEATRE-GOERS have been reassured that it's business as usual at the Gala for the foreseeable future.

A spokeswoman said that all advertised shows, including next week's Woman in Black, would go ahead and that the theatre was already planning future performances.

"Everything is going ahead as normal," she said. "We are booking new shows the whole time."

One of the next productions will be What a Swell Party, a tribute to the life and music of Cole Porter by Durham Amateur Operatic Society on June 28 and 29.

Society treasurer Mary Robinson said it would go ahead despite the group being owed £12,531 by The Entertainment Team (Durham).

"We are still doing it, and it's practically sold out," she said.

"We were doing just Friday and Saturday nights but they sold out so quickly that we are also putting on a Saturday matinee."

Ms Robinson said that although the debt owed to the society was considerable, the situation could have been worse.

"If we hadn't got tickets for members on credit, we couldn't have paid for the costumes, set and royalties for the last show," she said.

"We are busy fighting for the VAT we were told we wouldn't have to pay."

Ms Robinson said she hoped a production of Peter Pan scheduled for January could also go ahead.