Opened in 1907, the Darlington Hippodrome is one of the North East’s most elegant theatres. Clad in striking red-brick, with terracotta towers, and a lavish Edwardian interior. Originally christened the New Hippodrome and Palace of Varieties, it was the passion project of Signor Rino Pepi – a flamboyant quick-change artiste who once performed for Queen Victoria before turning theatre impresario.

The venue was originally built as a Hippodrome for spectacle, as was popular at the time. It even had a built-in water tank beneath the stage, allowing for full-blown aquatic stunts. On opening night, 2000 people were treated to a lineup led by music hall star Marie Loftus – and over the years, legends like Tommy Cooper, Morecambe & Wise, and even Anna Pavlova graced its stage.

As cinema and television rose to dominance, many theatres fell silent and the Hippodrome itself succumbed in 1958. But, Darlington rallied! Led by members of the local Operatic Society, and backed by the council, the theatre was saved and reborn as the Civic Theatre – becoming a home for both professional touring shows and local productions.

For nearly 60 years, it remained the town’s cultural hub – a place where generations saw their first panto, school trip, or musical. But by the 2010s, the building was showing its age. In 2016, the theatre closed for a major £13.7 million restoration project. Over 18 months, the entire venue was transformed: ornate plasterwork revived, new seating added, and a glass-fronted foyer introduced. The former water tower was even converted into a vaulted café bar.

When the theatre reopened in 2017, it returned to its original name – Darlington Hippodrome – and with it, a well deserved sense of pride. Today, it’s a modern 1,000-seat venue - check out the seating plans and 360 images, with a thriving programme of drama, musicals, and family shows. It also houses The Hullabaloo, an all new children’s theatre, expanding its reach to younger audiences in the community.

The Hippodrome isn’t just a performance space, it is a piece of living heritage, carefully preserved by local pride and expertly reimagined for the future. A theatre saved by its town, and still very much the heart of it.

The venue have created some great videos that really showcase how wonderful it is!
Backstage tour
Drone tour