A TINY theatre in the heart of North Yorkshire is in line for improvements with the help of Lottery cash.

The Kirk Theatre in Pickering is one of a number of projects in the county that have won awards from the Regional Arts Lottery Programme.

The theatre is run by the Pickering Musical Society, which plans to use the £36,500 award to upgrade facilities, provide access for the disabled and improve the amenities and structure.

The theatre is an old Methodist chapel that was bought and converted by the society 18 years ago. It is used to present their annual programme of musicals, variety shows and pantomimes.

Society secretary Rodney Preston said: "These improvements will be the first we have made since the theatre was converted.

"We will be able to provide comfortable seating and access for disabled people in the knowledge that the roof is sound and the heating will work. We are the only dedicated theatre in Ryedale and we want to be open to all, and we are very proud we can offer this facility."

On the North Yorkshire coast, Whitby Musicsport has also been chosen for an award, and will receive £21,500.

The organisation works to promote culturally diverse music in Whitby and the surrounding area, and now plans to strengthen its programme of year-round concerts and schools workshops leading up to its world music festi- val from October 18 to 20.

Co-ordinator Jim McLoughlin said: "Music of this kind just wouldn't happen here without the funding to bring bands from further afield. This year the festival will host over 30 acts, including Kekele from the Congo, Czech gipsy singer Vera Bila and her band, Moroccan Hassan Erraji and Misty in Roots from Jamaica."

Others to benefit include the Nettlefold Festival Trust, which is responsible for the Colourscape Music Festival in York's Museum Gardens from August 3 to 11 and gets £8,900.

Festival co-ordinator Simon DeSorgher said: "Thanks to this award the York Colour-scape Festival shifts gear to a bigger event reaching more people across Yorkshire and drawing new audiences to contemporary music and art.