From the 1850’s travelling theatres visited Todmorden erecting their wooden structures on the market place or on Stansfield Road near the railway. From 1875 touring companies used the Town Hall to stage their plays and music hall shows but attempts to sustain a permanent purpose-built theatre had failed until the Hippodrome was built. It was the brainchild of Richard Dewhirst, who took land abutting his shop and printing works in Halifax Road on which to build his theatre. An ambitious project which, although it was scaled down from the original design of stalls, circle and gallery, could still seat 1000 when it opened on 5 October 1908 with Hardie and Von Leer’s Company in ‘Two Lancashire Lasses in London’. Before long silent films were being screened before the main performance and during the interval.
Sadly, Richard Dewhirst had overstretched himself and in 1911 he became bankrupt. The theatre was sold and, in September 1912, passed into the hands of the Hartleys. Thet has theatre and cinema interests in Nelson and Burnley. The Hartleys ran the Hippodrome throughout the changes from live theatre (Stan Jefferson, later known as Stan Laurel, played here) and silent films to the ‘Talkies’ and Technicolor. They were always sympathetic to local societies, who had used the stage for musicals and plays as early as 1909.
In 1956 changes in lifestyles, television and the motor car, forced the Hartleys to close the Hippodrome, whereupon it was leased by the Todmorden Operatic Society who, along with the Todmorden Players, continued to perform there although it was financially always a struggle.
In 1986 Todmorden Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society came into being as the two societies merged. The following year Hartleys decided to sell the Hippodrome and offered first refusal to TAODS, who acquired the theatre for £28,000. Since this time, much hard work on maintenance and refurbishment has been carried out as resources allowed.
For a hundred years the Hippodrome has been an integral part of the community, in the hands of diligent volunteers for over half of its lifetime. The Hippodrome’s Centenary was joyously celebrated in 2008 and there are currently thriving musical, dramatic and youth sections and also ambitious plans for the future.
Written by
Malcolm Heywood
Hippodrome book
In celebration of the theatre’s centenary TAODS produced a book (written by local authors Malcolm and Freda Heywood), that records the history, life and times of the Hippodrome. The book covers the illustrious 100 years of the theatre in terrific detail, chronicling the history of the building and the society as well as the famous faces and names that have tread the boards in Todmorden.
If you are interested in purchasing one of the books they are available from the Hippodrome Bar, the Tourist Information Centre, or local bookshops in Todmorden.
Hardback £19.95
Paperback £14.95
Proceeds go to the Hippodrome Theatre.