Introduction
The Hippodrome is one of the UK’s largest community-run theatres and has been owned and run by the Todmorden Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (TAODS) for over 50 years.
The theatre presents arts and cultural events throughout the year and hosts many other arts and educational organisations events both professional and community-based.
Towns Fund investment will expand the offer and increase jobs and training prospects within the creative industries, in particular, for young people.
Funding will be targeted towards:
- Extending the existing theatre building to create a new fully accessible performance space
- The provision of a cinema space
- A new space to allow for the expansion of our youth theatre section
- Additional public spaces and refurbishment of existing spaces to increase the number of events
- Increased daytime use of the building to promote footfall along Halifax Road and an increase in visitors to Todmorden
- Purchase of an off-site storage unit to increase the amount of public space available
- Increasing employment opportunities for people working in the creative arts
Towns Fund investment will expand the offer and increase jobs and training prospects within the creative industries, in particular, for young people.
Funding will be targeted towards:
- Extending the existing theatre building to create a new fully accessible performance space
- The provision of a cinema space
- A new space to allow for the expansion of our youth theatre section
- Additional public spaces and refurbishment of existing spaces to increase the number of events
- Increased daytime use of the building to promote footfall along Halifax Road and an increase in visitors to Todmorden
- Purchase of an off-site storage unit to increase the amount of public space available
- Increasing employment opportunities for people working in the creative arts
Project Outline
The project is to extend into space currently occupied by the single-storey unit next to The Hippodrome Theatre and to refurbish the existing entrance spaces into the theatre to provide improved and wider facilities.
The aim of the project is to secure the future of the Hippodrome Theatre by increasing its use and impact within the town by allowing it to host a wider range of events.
Initial designs of the extension are shown below. They are not the final drawings.
What Will The Extension Allow Us To Do
Our designs for the new building and refurbishment work will:
- Create additional performance, event, and rehearsal spaces
- Improve accessibility for all to the Hippodrome and our events, including a new lift to all levels of the new extension
- Create a community cinema
- Present a much wider range of events, including daytime events
- Create additional opportunities for volunteers and professional artists
- Contribute to the wider economy by increasing the number of annual visitors
- Create a dedicated archive space and celebrate the history of the Hippodrome.
Progress So Far
Design work on the plans has been completed and initial applications made for the matched funding required for the project.
The Next Steps
With our business case approved and design work complete, the next steps are:
- Find and secure additional funding, by Autumn/Winter 2023
- Apply for planning consent July/August 2023
We are anticipating the following timescale, although this is to be confirmed:
- Works start date June 2024
- Closure of Hippodrome from June 2024 to October 2024
- Partial reopening with reduced capacity October 2024
- Construction works from June 2024 to November 2025
- Closure of Hippodrome from June 2025 to November 2025
- Full reopening of theatre November 2025
- Opening of new spaces and completion of project December 2025.
Towns Fund Alignment
✓ Arts, culture & heritage
✓ Skills & Enterprise infrastructure
✓ Covid-19 recovery plan
✓ Clean growth
Strategic Alignment
✓ National Planning Policy Framework
✓ Historic England Corporate Plan
✓ Visit Britain & Visit England 5-Year Plan
✓ West Yorkshire Strategic Economic Framework
✓ Welcome to Yorkshire Recovery Plan
✓ Leeds City Region Destination Plan
✓ Calderdale Vital Signs
✓ Calderdale Adult Learning Strategic Plan
✓ Calderdale All Age Disability Strategy
✓ Calderdale Visitor Economy Strategy
✓ Draft Todmorden Neighbourhood Plan
Town Deal Funding will:
- Provide new creative, retail and storage spaces
- Increase visitors to arts, cultural and heritage events
- Extend positive perception of The Hippodrome
- Create more volunteer and member opportunities
- Increase visitors to Todmorden
About The Project Lead
The Hippodrome Theatre is owned and run by a registered charity, Todmorden Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (TAODS).
It is a volunteer community-led theatre, one of the largest of its kind in the UK.
Funder
Accountable Body
Project Lead
Funder
Accountable Body
Project Lead