Nestled in a beautiful West Yorkshire valley, halfway between Manchester and Leeds, the Todmorden Hippodrome Theatre is an integral part of the community. Proudly the UK’s largest volunteer-powered theatre, it has been lovingly run by the Todmorden Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (TAODS) since 1956.
Saved from closure nearly 70 years ago by a dedicated group of volunteers, the Hippodrome is much more than a venue for plays, musicals, and film screenings — it’s the beating heart of Todmorden’s creative and cultural life.
In 1986, TAODS purchased the theatre, embarking on a major restoration project to preserve its stunning Edwardian Baroque interior. Today, over 73,000 volunteer hours each year keep the Hippodrome thriving as a hub for creativity, training, and community connection.
Our Archive Project is a window into the theatre’s rich history and the vital role small variety theatres have played in mill and market towns across the Northwest. Through photographs, posters, programmes, and set designs, we trace the stories of performers and audiences dating back to 1908. Treasured items like a scrapbook of newspaper cuttings from 1915 and fire-damaged printing blocks tell the tale of a theatre that has always been at the heart of its community.
The Covid-19 lockdown gave us the opportunity to dive deeper into cataloguing and preserving this history, revealing its immense cultural value to Todmorden and beyond. We are committed to digitising our collection, making it accessible to all, and sharing the Hippodrome’s incredible story widely.
With a focus on celebrating our past while looking to the future, we aim to ensure the Hippodrome remains a cornerstone of Todmorden’s cultural life for generations to come.
You can find out more about our archive by visiting www.todhip.org/our-archive
You can also find out more on the impact our little theatre has on the lives of our community and volunteers by watching a short film commissioned by us in 2024 – https://youtu.be/PAW2G6BEFHg?si=gK3zcdijBLe_UFLY
Explore members
Use the interactive map below to find our members in the UK and Ireland.