boy bands Westlife and A1 will appear in concerts to mark the opening of a new performance venue.

The bands, which attract huge teenage followings and have notched up a string of number ones, will perform in concerts to mark the launch of 510-seat Gala theatre, in Durham City.

Westlife will play a half-hour set on January 20 as a warm-up to a tour next year, including a visit to Newcastle's Telewest Arena.

To accomodate the crowds, the show will he held in a big top in the grounds of the Durham Sixth Form College, at 6pm, with radio DJs. It will be beamed live on to a screen.

Other performers taking part are Nicholas Parsons, Les Dennis, Simon Callow, Ned Sherrin and the Sylvia Young Theatre Group.

A1 will perform in a concert on the previous day.

The Gala is the £14m centrepiece of the Millennium City development, a Durham City Council project with funding from the Millennium Commission and the European Union.

It has already secured world-class names for its first season, which begins with a new work by acclaimed playwright Alan Ayckbourn.

Maurice Crathorne, leader of Durham City Council, said: "Westlife is the biggest name to ever play in Durham. It shows just how exciting and different the city will be with a world-class venue at its centre.

"The concert is a superb way to celebrate the opening of a unique venue."

For tickets call the box office on 020 7379 0223/4.