Galleries

The restored Darlington Hippodrome features three new galleries. The Pantomime Gallery celebrates the history and traditions of pantomime, while the young person's gallery, supported by the Gillian Dickinson Trust, is a changing space dedicated to celebrating and displaying work for and by young people, in and around Darlington. The ground floor heritage promenade hosts changing exhibitions, drawing on the theatre's archival collection.  

What's on in the galleries 

The Catherine Cookson Heritage Gallery - Heritage Promenade

Runs until October 2020

Alison J Carr | Ascending a Staircase

A photographic series of theatre interiors in venues across the north of England.

The images aim to probe the historical contexts of performance and to ask questions of the format itself using the staircases up to or from the stage as a device that opens up these questions.

The Gillian Dickinson Gallery - Dress Circle Level

Runs until October 2020

Firthmoor Primary School

Come and celebrate the history and heritage of Darlington with Firthmoor Primary School! Over the last year, pupils from Firthmoor Primary School have been exploring Darlington’s history, looking at the impact and importance of the railway. This exhibition features their research and drawings of Locomotion 1 and a very special class model.

Pantomime Gallery - 2nd Floor

Permanent exhibition

Hooray for the Hipp - 110 Years of Pantomime

Celebrating 110 years of pantomimes at the Hippodrome, this permanent exhibition will guide you through the A-Z of pantomime traditions and popular practices.  Tracing pantomime from its classical and European roots as the commedia dell’arte, through its Victoriana revival, you will be able to learn about the origins of some of your favourite jokes, characters and stories.  

 

Footlights Bar - first floor

Backstage at the Edwardian Theatre

Within the Footlights Bar this permanent exhibition is a chance to step back in time and explore the backstage world of an Edwardian theatre. You will be able to learn the secrets behind the tricks and techniques that astonished Edwardian audiences, such as the ghostly apparitions on stage, flying actors and quick change scenery.