PAVILION bosses say it's not all 'doom and gloom' for the theatre as ticket sales for this year's pantomime have rocketed.

Colin Worth, general manager of the Weymouth theatre, said the future looked bright despite a recent council report suggesting that the 'tired' venue needed improving.

Mr Worth said ticket sales for The Wizard of Oz, starring ex-Boyzone singer Keith Duffy, were up 100 per cent on this time last year and several summer shows, including Ken Dodd and Joe Pasquale, had been complete sell-outs.

Earlier this year a survey was carried out by Watts and Partners who said the council-owned Pavilion was in a 'fair but tired' condition and would be in need of more than £4,500,000 maintenance in the next 25 years.

But plans are already under way to develop the 44-year-old Pavilion building and nearby ferry terminal in time for the 2012 Olympics.

Corporate director of community services Bridget Downton told members of the borough management committee that a report had identified areas of improvement for the Pavilion before the proposed redevelopment.

She added: "It is important to emphasise that this is not a reflection on the existing management team at the Pavilion. They have done a good job."

However, the report does suggest improvements to marketing, programme schedules and general building maintenance.

Mr Worth said: "We try and balance the programme with things we know are popular and also try other things.

"Regrettably, even the likes of the Moscow State Ballet don't have the popular appeal that well-known names do. "You can't put a show on that's going to please everybody."

The report highlighted the low ticket prices in Weymouth compared to theatres in other seaside resorts and Mr Worth emphasised the low-cost car parking at the Pavilion out of season.

He added: "We are trying to let people know we have got a good theatre locally to save people the trouble of having to travel on to Bournemouth or Poole."

Miss Downton said plans were under way to provide online booking to boost ticket sales, and Mr Worth said he believed it could be in place before Christmas.

He said the line-up for next year included TV illusionists Derren Brown and Uri Geller as well as the West End musical Grease.