A historic theatre in Stockton-on-Tees, north east England, is set to undergo a major transformation after plans to revive the venue were approved by the local authority.

Planning officials at Stockton Borough Council (SBC) have given the green light to developer Jomast to proceed with the multi-million pound proposals, which is set to form part of a wider regeneration of the town centre. Located on Stockton High Street, the Globe Theatre first opened in 1913 as a cinema and established itself as one of the region's leading music venues during the 1950s and 1960s, attracting acts such as The Beatles and Buddy Holly.

Jomast's plans for the venue include the preservation and restoration of the building's exterior and a new extension to accommodate upgraded seating, bar, catering and washroom facilities. An adjacent vacant property will also be transformed into a bar and bistro. Stuart Monk, managing director of Jomast, said: "There is a substantial amount of work to be done in order to finalise and deliver our vision for The Globe and we are now working closely with key partner agencies in order to start moving this project forward."

SBC's head of regeneration and economic development, Richard Poundford, added: "Proposals to redevelop the Globe Theatre will certainly be good news for Stockton as the former glory and success of the venue has been of interest to many people for a number of years."