A DURHAM drama group is looking forward to staging the first amateur production in the city's new £14m Gala theatre.

The state-of-the-art venue, which is being built as part of the £30m Millennium City development, is due to open in December.

It will stage its first professional shows in January.

Durham Amateur Operatic Society, which was founded in 1908, will be the first local group to tread the boards when it performs the popular musical Me and My Girl, in February.

The society is keen to "make a splash" and is on the look-out for new members to take part in the production, both on stage and behind the scenes.

Society publicity officer Anthony Smith said the prospect of playing in the new theatre had "generated a great deal of excitement".

He said: "We want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to perform on this wonderful new stage.

"We are holding an open evening at which we will be talking about the new theatre, as well as the show.

"We want to get as many new people involved as possible, both on stage and backstage."

The evening will be held on Monday, July 2, at 7.30pm, in St Margaret's Junior School, Nevilles Cross, Durham.

People who want to take part in the production but cannot attend the event can register their interest by ringing the society's secretary Ruth ball on 0191-386 8227.

The 550-seat theatre features the latest acoustic design to ensure sound quality throughout the auditorium.

The seating can be taken down to allow the theatre to be used for conferences. The venue is being managed for Durham City Council by the London-based Entertainment Team.

The society will be performing the revised version of the show, written by Stephen Fry and first performed in 1985.