MAINTENANCE work to improve the Great Hall at Derby's Assembly Rooms is well under way with the floor and ceiling now removed.
The schedule will mean that the Great Hall will be closed until the end of September.
The priority work is to remove the floor and replace it with a new hardwood sprung floor.
This new surface will be much better under foot for dancing.
As well as the floor being replaced, the ceiling is also being removed to be updated.
The old ceiling has now been removed and will be replaced in order to improve the venue's acoustics and lighting.
Both of these are important to provide the audience with the best audio and visual experience possible when seeing shows.
The Great Hall continues to be busy, even while shut.
There is a host of workers taking to the floor and stage daily to ensure the work continues on schedule.
Peter Ireson, director of Derby Live, said: ''This summer sees the Assembly Rooms Great Hall hosting production activity of a different kind as a large cast of technicians, engineers and labourers appear on stage on a daily basis.
''Work is now well under way, with the Great Hall floor stripped out and a large scaffold structure installed allowing the old ceiling to be dismantled and removed.''
As well as the huge amount of work being carried out on the floor and ceiling, the Assembly Rooms is upgrading provisions for fire safety.
A new alarm and fire detection system will be installed alongside emergency lighting throughout the venue.
The closure of the Great Hall meant that last week's Camra Beer Festival was held in other areas in the Assembly Rooms as well as an outdoor marquee.
However the change in location did not hinder the festival's popularity. Emma Davis, audience and sponsorship manager said: "This is the first year that we were selling tickets for the beer festival in advance and they sold really well."
The Great Hall will remain closed until the end of the maintenance period in September but the Darwin Suite and bar, Great Hall Foyer and 45 suite remain open all summer. The Great Hall will reopen in October with a packed programme of entertainment.
Acts to look out for include comedian Ed Byrne and the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra.
There is also a week's run of popular musical Blood Brothers.
For more information on what you can see at the Assembly Rooms, visit http://www.derbylive.co.uk/to look at the programme and book tickets.
