BAM Construction has secured a £5.3m contract as part of a £7m project to redevelop Plymouth's landmark Theatre Royal.

The Devon-based contractor will re-clad the building's curtain walling and refurbish the front-of-house area including the box office and restaurant. New catering facilities will be introduced and the capacity of the restaurant increased.

The project will also involve work on the backstage and basement areas, as well as new mechanical and electrical plant.

A creative learning space will be created in the basement for use in community outreach programmes.

Construction will begin in mid-April and the theatre will reopen in September.

Jack Mellor, theatre manager, said: "We are pleased to be working with BAM, who impressed us with their approach and their confidence that the very challenging programme of works could be completed on time."