Here at Darlington Hippodrome we truly believe in the transformative power of the arts and think everyone should have access to creative activities.  We are raising money to ensure that everybody, regardless of their situation, can access the theatre.

The overarching aim of the project is to remove the barriers to participation for individuals and families within Darlington who may not have the financial means or support networks to visit the Hippodrome and see a show.  Working in partnership with various bodies and organisations we will identify vulnerable members on the edges of our community such as children in care/at the risk of being taken into care, low-income families, older residents at risk of isolation, and people facing social, physical and mental health challenges, who would benefit from participating in a shared cultural experience. 

Our ambition is for the project to act as a gateway into wider social and cultural activity as part of a wider intervention programme, through partnerships with other health, wellbeing and social inclusion schemes.

Participation in group social and cultural activity brings with it a myriad of health and wellbeing benefits and has been proven to help tackle social isolation.  Numerous studies across the years have demonstrated that watching a live performance can deliver a host of developmental benefits, including improved emotional intelligence, more empathetic behaviour, and can be the catalyst for opening a discussion about difficult subjects.  Attendance in a group or as a family can also help to break down barriers and improve bonding through a shared experience. 

Our work in these areas is not core funded, but is essential to develop the theatre as ‘place for all’.  By putting the theatre at the heart of Darlington our ambition is to make a genuine contribution to community cohesion, to improve civic pride and to contribute towards a healthier society. 

We require approximately £7,500 per season to distribute around 500 tickets and have raised £5,000 so far towards the spring season.  If you enjoy the theatre please help someone else to have that experience.