Darlington Hippodrome

Parkgate,
Darlington, DL1 1RR

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terry
terry on October 11, 2019 at 3:01 pm

Article re the expensive stage drapes at the Hippodrome:–

https://www.jcjoel.com/case-studies/darlington-hippodrome-england/

terry
terry on April 5, 2016 at 12:53 pm

When the Hippodrome does reopen I have little doubt that it will then be the town’s only remaining theatre building as CJ Phipps' Theatre Royal which survives , albeit largely rebuilt but with much of the superstructure remaining, as the Odeon (former ABC Regal) will, in all likelihood, have fallen victim to the new Vue complex.

terry
terry on April 5, 2016 at 10:52 am

This theatre closes at the end of May 2016 for a period of eighteen months for a £12 million refurbishment. When it reopens it will be with a ‘new’ name:–

DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

Certainly, to revert to the original name is not before time as I always maintained that ‘Civic Theatre’ conjures up an image of a 1960’s concrete edifice as opposed to a very atmospheric Edwardian theatre.

I once mentioned this to members of the Town Council whilst I was a Manager in the town (at the ABC) and they said that the name ‘Hippodrome’ was rather ludicrous sounding. I remember ‘sticking my neck out’ and retorting that the name was certainly good enough for the major cities of Birmingham and Bristol – which did not go down awfully well…………

Common sense has finally prevailed!

Ian
Ian on December 3, 2011 at 3:18 am

Some better images from 2011 here:–

AUDITORIUM FROM STAGE

AUDITORIUM FROM DRESS CIRCLE

FOYER

Ian
Ian on December 16, 2008 at 3:30 pm

A few more shots of the Civic from 1997 here:–

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/406838873/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/406838867/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/406838871/

AdoraKiaOra
AdoraKiaOra on December 16, 2008 at 5:18 am

I worked on a tour of ‘A Chorus Line’ back in the mid 80s that played a week here and back then the stage facilities were very limiting to say the least. The large orchestra for the show was housed upstairs, in the funtion room, of a pub up the road from the theatre and relayed back to the auditorium.
Beautiful, atmospheric theatre, well preserved.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on December 15, 2008 at 5:45 pm

Some photographs of the Civic Theatre…..
Exterior in November 2007:
http://flickr.com/photos/14168877@N04/1952506613/
Entrance in July 2007;
http://flickr.com/photos/9234347@N05/845788366/
Auditorium view from a box in September 2008:
http://flickr.com/photos/superlekker/2852045574/
Auditorium viewed from the Dress Circle:
http://flickr.com/photos/superlekker/2852046520/
Auditorium viewed from the Stalls front row:
http://flickr.com/photos/superlekker/2851213337/