The Grand Opera House in Belfast is to undergo a £12 million restoration.
The 10-month project, which is due to begin next January, will see the venue's famous auditorium, which was designed by theatre architect, Frank Matcham, returned to its former grandeur.
The work includes the restoration of the auditorium’s plasterwork, including the famous elephant heads which support the ornate auditorium boxes, front-of-balcony designs, ceiling décor, paintings and the intricate decorative finishes.
It will also include the repair and restoration of the 1980 glass extension to the Great Victoria Street façade.
The area, which is currently closed off from the public, will be reopened to allow theatregoers and visitors to enjoy more of the 1895 building.
There will also be an upgrade of the technical infrastructure while the auditorium seats and stage curtains will also be replaced.
There will also be an upgrade of the theatregoer facilities including increased wheelchair spaces, improving access into the auditorium and increasing the number of toilets.
A first-ever permanent exhibition celebrating the many famous people who have appeared on stage at the Grand Opera House, including Laurel and Hardy and Luciano Pavarotti, will also be created.
Rescued from demolition in the mid-1970s, restored and reopened in 1980, the Grand Opera House was the first building in Belfast to attain Grade A listed status, and is the only remaining Victorian Theatre in Northern Ireland.
Ian Wilson, Chief Executive of the Grand Opera House, said: "There’s no doubt that Frank Matcham bestowed on Belfast one of his most imaginative and splendid creations".
"The support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the project’s other funders will protect this unique heritage asset and will secure a thriving theatre for future generations".
The work will be completed ahead of the theatre’s 125th anniversary in December 2020.
