Featured Partner: Darlington Hippodrome
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In this blog series, we introduce you to one of our fantastic partner organisations.
These quick-fire interviews give an insight into what it's really like to work with us and introduce you to the broad range of organisations we collaborate with.
In this feature, we speak with Heather Tarran-Jones. Heather is the Programming & Development Director at Darlington Hippodrome, one of our long-term venue partners.
Which organisation do you work for and what does your role involve?
I’m the Programming & Development Director at Darlington Hippodrome. I select the shows that come to the theatre, carefully crafting a programme of entertainment and events which will appeal to a wide variety of audiences.
I programme musicals, drama, ballet, opera, contemporary dance, comedians, musicians and tributes, orchestral concerts, and family shows. I also plan our engagement events, working internally with the team to plan tours, talks, workshops and full theatre family takeover days.
What do you most enjoy about your role?
The theatre has a charitable fund called ‘A Place for Everyone’. The fund enables us to identify and work with groups, individuals, schools and charities that would not otherwise have had the opportunity to attend the theatre.
We fund the cost of tickets to see shows, offer tours of the theatre, deliver workshops with professional artists and offer reduced rate memberships for our classes.
It’s a great privilege to be able to bring joy to people in this way!
How did you hear about Orchestras Live and when did you begin working with us?
Our partnership started in 2017 when the Hallé Orchestra worked with local young musicians to write a brass fanfare for the theatres official re-opening event, after a large capital restoration. Darlington Hippodrome’s relationship with Orchestras Live was still in its infancy when my predecessor handed over the relationship in 2019, but it has grown in ambition and reach in the last 5 years.
Young musicians and members of the Hallé perform their new fanfare composed for the reopening of Darlington Hippodrome.
What’s the most memorable thing about our partnership project?
Lockdown was a worrying and stressful time for our sector, but out of it came some of our most memorable projects.
Song of the Skerne really stuck with me as a standout moment, showing that great things can happen and people will always find a way to come together to create, even in the most difficult of circumstances. The Live premier of the original piece of music in 2021 was such a moving experience.
How has the longevity of the partnership project impacted your community?
With each year, we have been able to engage more children and young people in creative music making. Having the learning and participation activity embedded into the concert creates wonderfully unique and memorable opportunities for the participants as well as raising aspirations of those involved! Building audiences also takes time, and the variety within the programme offered by Orchestras Live brings with it opportunities to reach new audiences with every concert we present.
How has the partnership responded to the needs of the community?
Orchestras Live have built great relationships in the community and the close working relationship they have both with the Hippodrome and Durham Music Service means that we’re able to match the right community groups, schools and young musicians to the most appropriate projects. Ensuring a good fit, means that everyone gets something out of it!
Describe working with us in three words.
Ambitious. Inspiring. Creative.
