ONE theatre closes, another opens.

In the same week that the Civic Theatre in Darlington closed for major renovations, a small gem of a performance space in the town opened for the first time.

The 280-seat theatre in the Majestic in Bondgate is obviously not on the same scale as the Civic, but offers great potential for filling the gap left by the late, lamented Darlington Arts Centre.

Like the ground floor, which opened some time ago as a soft play area, the upper floor has been impeccably restored in Art Deco style, with architectural features picked out in black and gold against deep maroon walls in the auditorium, impressive original stained glass windows, a period look in the two bars adjacent to the theatre and even authentic looking detail in tiles and mirrors in the toilets.

There was palpable excitement for the preview show. Bar staff, doormen and others seemed bursting with pride at welcoming and serving the first audience.

Matt Campbell, manager, bouncing with excitement after months of work, also had something of a rabbit caught in headlights look, admitting frankly to feeling terrified.

"We have something really brilliant here and we hope to become part of the community," he said in his welcome speech on stage at the start of the show, clutching a clipboard bearing the list of acts. "We want to become a thriving theatre space and work with amateur and professional performers."

The show consisted of both, with Darlington College students giving previews from this week's We Will Rock You Musical and other routines, two dancers from the Sonya Marie Academy in the town and a lively foretaste of Aladdin by AJ Productions, a professional company from Middlesbrough, which held a workshop last weekend for young people interested in performing in the pantomime.

The company regularly works with schools across Teesside and North Yorkshire as well has creating productions.

The stage stretches the full width of the auditorium, a challenging space for set design, but ideal for small-scale contemporary companies used to performing in village halls and open air settings. Seating is raked and comfortable, with plenty of leg room.

About 30 students from the college aged 16-18 were involved in performing or on technical aspects backstage during a year-long project as part of their courses and work placements.

There were a few technical hitches, but the invited audience – about two thirds of the capacity – was in a jolly and forgiving mood and rather enjoyed it when Mr Campbell was enveloped in a mistimed cloud of stage smoke in the semi-dark when, presumably, a different lever should have raised a spotlight. Sound levels occasionally needed better adjustment.

College students were well-rehearsed in song and dance routines, notably the aggressive vitality of He had it Coming from Chicago the Musical. Academy dancers Amy and Harriet were impressive in gymnastic-style movement.

The show ended with characters in colourful costumes performing extracts from Aladdin – zany, off-beat and slightly rude, more suitable for teenagers and adults than young children. There was even a dragon and life-size exotic bird.

The theatre plans to offer films, and the backdrop space looks ideal for screenings. This would certainly please the many in the town who regret the loss of the classic and modern film seasons at the Arts Centre where film nights often sold out.

It will be 17 months before the newly-styled Hippodrome reopens – plenty of time for the Majestic to get its act together and form a new and different following for live performance.