LOCAL musicians have given a cautious welcome to plans to turn Newport's former Odeon cinema, pictured, into a purpose-built live music theatre.

Under the proposals the cinema, a Grade II listed building, would be transformed into the first theatre of its kind in the UK, with capacity for 2,240 people, bars, a restaurant, and recording facilities.

The plans need to get the go-ahead from Newport's planning authority, CADW and Gwent police.

It is hoped the project will create a centre of excellence for music and live performance, attracting worldwide contemporary and classical names.

But the venue would also be ideal for showcasing local talent, says the man behind the plans, former Chepstow Racecourse director Richard Perry.

Jeff Ganner, chairman of Newport Male Voice Choir, said he would welcome the theatre as long as it did not cost too much to play there.

Mr Ganner said: "Anything whereby people can show off local talent has got to be a good thing, providing the price is set at a level so amateur groups like us can use the facility.

"It would be a nice place and it's welcome, but whether the likes of male voice choirs will be able to play there I don't know.

"You have to sell a lot of tickets to recoup your costs."

Chris Edmunds, secretary of Newport Operatic Society, said the theatre was an "interesting concept", but he would need to find out more.

Mr Edmunds said: "Our problem is we play in a relatively small theatre at the moment and meeting the costs of production is increasingly difficult, so we would certainly be interested in looking at a larger venue.

"But obviously it would need to have the appropriate facilities for scenery, an orchestra pit and facilities for helping us market in a more effective way than we do at the moment."

Keith Davies, secretary of Newport's Lyrical Musical Society, said it was potentially a very good idea: "I believe there's a lot of talent in Newport that's not been tapped yet."