Welcome to the UK's largest community owned theatre
AMAZING PROGRESS ALREADY ACHIEVED
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Thanks to extraordinary support from major funders, our community and years of determined fundraising, we have been able to deliver a once-in-a-generation transformation of the Hippodrome. Much of that funding has been specifically awarded for the major construction work and cannot simply be used for anything we choose. As a volunteer-led charity, we don't have large reserves sitting behind the project, so we now need to raise the final £150,000 to complete and equip the new spaces and bring them fully to life. The biggest investment has already been made — The Final Push is about turning everything we've achieved into something our whole community can enjoy for generations to come.
The Final Push isn't about finding one person to write a huge cheque. Every donation, large or small, brings us a little closer to the finish line. The Hippodrome has been owned and supported by its community for generations, and together we can secure its future for generations to come. This is our theatre, our community and our chance to make something truly special happen.
We're delighted to be the chosen charity of the Town Cryer this year
WHAT MAKES THE HIPPODROME SPECIAL
The Hippodrome is more than a beautiful Edwardian theatre – it is a remarkable example of what a community can achieve.
When the building faced closure in 1956, local people stepped forward to save it, and generations of dedicated volunteers have kept its doors open ever since, today giving more than 70,000 hours of their time each year.
Our Youth Theatre has been inspiring young people since 1981, with more than 1,000 young people passing through its doors, while the Hippodrome now welcomes over 20,000 visitors each year – bringing people into the heart of Todmorden, supporting our vibrant town centre and contributing to the local economy.
The theatre also provides a home for community cinema, local schools and performers, heritage and archive projects, community events and other local organisations.
Supporting The Final Push isn't simply about completing a building project; it's about protecting something generations of local people have created together and ensuring the Hippodrome remains at the heart of Todmorden for generations still to come.
We’re so much more than just a theatre — we’re a place where people, creativity and community come together.
Now we need your help to complete this once-in-a-generation transformation. Be part of The Final Push, make a difference and help us create something amazing for generations to come.
If you'd like more information on making a donation, we'd love to hear from you. Please click the GET IN TOUCH button and complete our contact form. Thank you
Watch our short video and see how our
little theatre makes a big difference
Latest News
Come and join us at our fundraising coffee morning on Saturday 26th October and take a chance to see the new extension from the inside and how near we are to completion
19th September
We had a fabulous night with the touring production of 3 Acres and A Cow at the Hippodrome. Our Raise The Roof project will allow us to bring many more professional touring events to the Hippodrome, giving local people the chance to enjoy live events without travelling and employment to professional artists.
Inspiring the architects of the future
We're delighted to be working in partnership with the Manchester School of Architecture on a project inspired by our Raise The Roof Project. We welcomed almost 100 students and staff to the Hippodrome along with our architects Storah Architecture. Students from MSA will be developing their own ideas and schemes for ways to develop period variety theatre buildings to create sustainable futures for them and we're honoured that they chose the Hippodrome to use as a template. We can't wait to see the ideas they come up with! We were delighted to give them the opportunity to see the original architects plans which we still hold in our archives. They're also carrying out an environmental survey to help us with future ventilation schemes. We're so proud to be supporting the architects of the future and hope they find a passion for working on theatre architecture projects in their professional work.