As we enjoy the festive season, it’s the perfect time to celebrate the much-loved historic places entertaining modern audiences – and how National Lottery funding is keeping the show on the road!

Supporting cultural venues in the North East

Curtain goes up at Darlington Hippodrome

Darlington Hippodrome is now open for its first Christmas season since its £5million National Lottery transformation.

This Grade II listed theatre has been attracting stars and audiences for over a century, and thanks to National Lottery players it is now fit for another century at the heart of Darlington’s cultural scene. 

Sunderland Fire Station given new lease of life

Bombed during the Second World War and unused for the last 25 years, The Fire Station in Sunderland has been given a much-deserved bright future thanks to £2.5m National Lottery funding. Its history as the city’s first dedicated fire station is told throughout the restored building which is now open as an arts venue – with a variety of shows and exhibitions lined up for next year!

Theatre Royal offers festive fun

Once named by Sir Ian McKellan as his personal favourite, the Grade I Listed Theatre Royal in Newcastle is also offering festive entertainment this December.

Audiences will be able to enjoy the recently revamped auditorium, the result of a £4.75m project including £300,000 of National Lottery funding, which also saw the grand building’s historic features secured for the future.

Coming soon…

While not open for this year’s audiences, two other show-stopping redevelopments are underway thanks to National Lottery players.

Middlesborough Town Hall

At Middlesbrough Town Hall, a £3.7m grant is being used to restore the concert hall to its former glory, improve facilities and open up unused areas of the building. It is set to reopen in 2018.

The Globe Theatre in Stockton

Stockton’s Globe Theatre is currently under wraps for a £4.5m National Lottery project to restore the derelict Art Deco theatre where music legends The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Buddy Holly once played. Work has begun and doors are set to open in 2019.