'No case' over theatre party claims

The Gala Theatre opened in January 2002

An internal inquiry into activities at a party held at Durham's Gala Theatre has found "no evidence" of drug use that would lead to criminal charges.

Durham City Council began an investigation into the alleged "inappropriate use" of the recently opened £14m theatre after reports of a Halloween Party at the venue.

The allegations came to light after it emerged an ambulance was called to the theatre shortly after midnight, when a guest was taken ill.

Durham Police were called to investigate but they have advised the council there is no case to answer.

The inquiry has also established that permission had been given for the party.

Financial loss

What remains to be resolved is whether some guests stayed at the theatre overnight, in breach of insurance regulations.

The loss-making Gala Theatre in Durham is already the subject of a vigorous financial review, after being taken into the hands of city councillors.

The Gala opened in January 2002 as the largest provincial venue in the UK in a decade.

The theatre, which also boasts a cinema, ran into difficulty within months when its original managers, the Entertainment Team, went into liquidation.

In its first year, the site lost £700,000 and Durham City Council says it has been budgeted to lose a further £400,000.