The venue was closed in July 2003 indefinitely after amassing debts of almost �500,000.

The Arts Council awarded the theatre a �1.3m recovery fund to help it through its difficulties.

The longer term plan was to reopen the theatre in 2006 as part of the city council's new performing arts centre, But now managers have confirmed the building will reopen this September.

Different scale

A full programme of productions, including "Singin' in the Rain", will be announced in April.

The theatre will produce shows to be held in the community from late summer.

But Ruth Doyle from the theatre admitted it would not be on the same scale as before.

She said: "There'll still be a very broad range of programming, and there'll be a large number of performances.

"It won't look as if it's a fully-operational theatre because it's a smaller organisation.

"But we will be opening our doors to the public and producing work and putting on shows.

"The people of Leicester have nothing to worry about."