Welcome to the UK's largest community owned theatre
Providing access to the arts for young people in Todmorden since 1981
Our Youth Theatre Story
The Hippodrome Youth Theatre is the youth section of T.A.O.D.S. Formed in 1981, under the original name Todmorden Operatic Youth Section ,or TOYS for short; it has given access to the performing arts for hundreds of local young people.
Covering everything from full scale musicals to contemporary drama and Shakespeare alongside stagecraft and technical theatre skills. Our Youth Theatre members don't just perform, we're able to give them the opportunity to learn every aspect of theatre because we're in the enviable position of owning our own Edwardian theatre.
The Legacy of the Youth Theatre
The Hippodrome Youth Theatre has impacted on the lives of countless individuals and the proof of that impact can be seen clearly in our current adult membership. Many of our members today are still here having come through the youth theatre. Indeed both our resident director and choreographer of the youth section were members of it themselves. In our upcoming production of Shrek we are proud to be able to welcome many new members to the theatre to perform alongside those who have been with us for years. At last count at least 17 members of the cast and production team were members of our youth system.
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We are also immensely proud that many of our members have entered into the realm of professional theatre. From actors and dancers, to technical crew and even running West End theatres the reach of the Hippodrome has stretched far and wide.
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Below are a few testimonies of those who have been through our youth section.
