Audiences at the Maddermarket Theatre in Norwich are breathing a sigh of relief following the long-awaited installation of a £70,000 comfort cooling system after a seven-year fundraising campaign.

Audiences at the Maddermarket Theatre in Norwich are breathing a sigh of relief following the long-awaited installation of a £70,000 comfort cooling system after a seven-year fundraising campaign.

Stifling summer temperatures of more than 100 degrees inside the 300-seater auditorium have been no joke for long-suffering audience members who have perspired, nodded off - and occasionally even fainted in the sweltering surroundings.

"It has cost a lot of money to install this new system and we have had to shut the theatre while work has been in progress, but it was absolutely essential to ensure the comfort of our audience." said Maddermarket general manager Mike Lyas.

The St John's Alley theatre closed throughout June during the installation of the new system and it will reopen for the Maddermarket's 10-show production of the Terry Johnson comedy Dead Funny, which runs from July 6-15.

Mr Lyas said the theatre was hugely grateful to the Friends of the Maddermarket Theatre, whose support had made the project possible.

"The Friends have contributed £20,000 of the £70,000 we have spent, much of it raised during our Locrian Ensemble classical music concerts which are extremely popular, frequently sold out, and therefore tend to be very hot," he said.

The new system is known as "comfort cooling" but it can also heat the theatre when necessary as thermostats kick in and out to keep the temperature at a comfortable level at all times.