THE curtain goes up tonight on a season of shows to pump cash into the restoration of one of the region's architectural treasures.

A Lottery grant of almost £600,000, and £200,000 in donations, have given new hope to the Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond, North Yorkshire.

However, another £200,000 must come from the local community if £1.1m improvements are to become a reality.

A prize draw, with a Vauxhall car donated by Sherwoods as the top prize, was launched in the summer.

Tonight, An Evening of Jazz with the Mick Donnelly Jazz Quartet and Barnard Castle School Jazz Band starts at 7.30pm, in the first of a series of performances aimed at attracting new audiences to this working example of a Georgian playhouse.

There will also be a grand gala performance of Cosi Fan Tutte, by Pimlico Opera, on October 18, with a champagne reception and buffet; North Country Theatre's 2001, Space Idiocy, on November 2; folk with The Fettlers and guests, on December 7; and a Christmas Concert with the Carol Andrews Singers, on December 15.

For more details, call (01748) 823710 or the box office on (01748) 823021.