Times are tough for all live venues and theatres at the moment, but it’s looking particularly precarious for Hulme’s stunning Grade-II listed Hippodrome, as developers look to sell the site and get rid forever.
Built alongside the the Hulme Playhouse (now Niamos) in 1901, the Hippodrome acted as the HQ of Broadhead Theatres – comprising 17 other venues across the North West – most of which are now, unfortunately, lost.
The theatres made a huge contribution to working-class entertainment across the region and made theatre, arts and entertainment open to all.
Covered in gilded Rococco plasterwork the Hulme Hippodrome is an iconic building filled with social, historical, and architectural significance and has been on the Theatres Trust ‘Theatres at Risk’ list since the list began in 2006.
This year it was discovered that The Hippodrome had been listed on an online auction house for £950,000 – however, this has since been removed. However, there is still a risk that the building we be bought by a developer when it goes for auction on February 10th and this jewel will be lost forever.
As a result, members of the local community, Friends of the Hulme Hippodrome, SAVE HULME Hippodrome, Hulme Community Forum and The Theatres Trust have all come together to try to SAVE The Hulme Hippodrome – and YOU can help them to do it.
They’ve launched an online Crowdfunder to aim to raise an initial £10,000 to secure the theatre by putting into community ownership and pave the way for a full refurbishment and renovation.
The vision is to see the building host:
Production Academy – teaching set and costume design, sound & lighting, flying & rigging.
Museum of Manchester Music and Arts – a modular museum designed for research and education
Bakery and employment academy for ex-homeless
Cafe, library and book store
Bike hub and workshop
Co-working space
Community wellbeing centre
We also want to bring the building and operation under community ownership.
There’s no denying the cultural and community significance of the theatre, and so if you want to help, head on over to the Crowdfunder page below and give what you can…
