THOUSANDS of people flocked to a North-East theatre over the weekend to see a sound and light spectacular which helped mark the venue’s 25th anniversary.

The free show, Heart of the House, was projected on to two sides of The Customs House in South Shields on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

It was delivered by NOVAK, an award-winning creative design agency, who won a joint commission from The Customs House and The Cultural Spring, an Arts Council England funded project working to increase arts participation in South Tyneside and Sunderland.

The show’s centerpiece was the projection of a ten-minute, continuously-looped projection about The Customs House on to the historic building, and it also included an illuminated walkway leading down to the venue through its landscaped frontage.

More than 300 local people were involved in creating Heart of the House, making banners and flags in workshops for the walkway, and helping local musician and composer Ed Carter create an original soundscape which helped brings the film to life.

Christine Smith, from South Shields, attended on both Friday and Sunday nights:

She said: “I came down in the rain on Friday with my daughter, but loved it so much brought a group of friends back when it was a bit drier on Sunday. I kept seeing something different every time I watched the ten-minute film, and I also loved the imagination and creativity behind the flags and banners as you walked down.”

Ray Spencer, the venue’s director, added: “Heart of the House was a lovely tribute to what we do here and successfully captured many elements that make up The Customs House.”