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Globe Theatre facelift will create jobs

Plans to give Stockton’s Globe Theatre a £4million facelift have been approved by council bosses, which will create 23 permanent posts.

Stockton Council said the theatre’s two-year restoration would create the largest indoor auditorium between Leeds and Newcastle with a capacity of 2,500.

In addition to the permanent posts, Stockton Council said the project would create 72 construction jobs.

The council estimates that it will attract around 82,500 visitors who will spend almost £2.5 million in the town centre, supporting up to 130 extra local jobs.

Councillor Bob Cook, Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development, said: “This is fantastic news for Stockton.

“The Council’s investment will both safeguard the building’s many historic features and enable a major step forward in regenerating Stockton’s town centre to go ahead.

“Its return as a performance venue will boost the growth of the whole town centre by developing the evening economy and creating jobs.”

Stockton’s Globe Theatre opened in 1917 as a cinema and because of its 2,370 seating capacity later attracted major music stars like The Beatles.

But the venue closed in 1993 after being used as a bingo hall since 1977.

The project already has planning and listed building consent and contractors are expected to move on site in April.

The restoration will see an upgrade and installation of new seating, a new bar, catering and washroom facilities and converting an adjacent vacant property into a cafe bar.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .