The 1937 art deco Tyneside Cinema in Gateshead will temporarily move to the Old Town Hall on 23 November, while the existing premises are completely renovated.

The performance hall and stage area at the Town Hall have been converted into a seating gallery with a cinema screen and the adjacent small hall will house the cinema’s coffee house.

The £6.5m refurbishment of the existing cinema building will comprise a new extension to house two new cinema screens, together with new education and film production space to help train local film producers.

The existing classic screen, coffee house, foyers and stairwell will also be restored to reveal the original mosaics, ceiling decorations and stained glass windows of the art deco building.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has provided £3m, the TyneWear Partnership has allocated £2m via Single Programme Funding from One NorthEast and the Northern Rock Foundation has awarded £500,000 towards the project.

Fletcher Priest Architects has designed the renovation, which will be developed by Wates Construction.

Mark Dobson, chief executive of Tyneside Cinema, said: “This move to the Old Town Hall means we will be able to carry on the work at the cinema uninterrupted, while patrons can continue to see films and enjoy a coffee at the Old Town Hall.” Details: www.tynecine.org

Photograph: Tyneside Cinema courtesy of David Williams