Darlington’s Civic Theatre has been awarded a £4.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards its £11.7m regeneration, which will see major improvements—and a change of name—at the Edwardian theatre.
The theatre’s Edwardian exterior and auditorium will be restored and new features added: a new modern entrance and promenade gallery, a vaulted function room in the former water tower and improved seating with more leg room and disabled access, including two lifts which will provide access to all levels both front and back of house.
The number of seats will increase to 1,000 (currently 901) and there will be improved backstage facilities for touring companies, which will enable larger shows to be accommodated. A new education centre and improved public spaces will support a new range of daytime learning and engagement activities.
The theatre will also revert back to its original name, The Hippodrome. It became the Civic Theatre in 1966, a few years after being acquired by the Borough Council.
The remaining money needed for the project will be raised through a restoration ticket levy and a programme of fundraising, which includes applications to trusts and foundations, corporate sponsorship opportunities, as well as a seat naming campaign and other fundraising initiatives.
The announcement comes not long after Arts Council England committed £1.5m to building The Hullabaloon, a child-centred theatre development which will include a 150-seat studio theatre, family café, creative play spaces and rehearsal and office space for Theatre Hullabaloo, which is adjacent to the Civic, as we reported in March.
Councillor Nick Wallis, Darlington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, said, “this project represents the biggest investment in the theatre since it opened its doors in 1907. Together, the two projects will see a total investment of £14.6m in the arts in Darlington to create a theatre quarter that will cater for generations of theatre lovers.
“We are delighted to have secured the support of HLF to enable this ambitious project to go ahead and look forward to working with our partners, and the people of Darlington to secure the future of the town’s much loved theatre and help create a wonderful new facility for our young people.”