Darlington Civic Theatre

                      

THIS IS NOT A FULLY DATED TIMELINE. JUST KEY POINTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE THEATRE.

Over 100 years ago for the first time Darlington Civic Theatre opened its front doors on Monday 2^nd of September 1907, under the leadership of managing director Signor Rino Pepi, an Italian ex patriot. For over a 100years it’s been a popular theatre and had many famous names perform here including, Tommy Cooper, Dame Vera Lynn, the chuckle brothers and Anna Pavlova. And to this day the theatre still attracts the biggest names.

Signor Rino Pepi was born in 1872 in Florence, Italy. When Signor Pepi was in his early twenties he was renowned across all of Europe. Even queen Victoria liked Pepi that much she gave him her very own diamond scarf pin.

It took Signor Rino Pepi only seven months to complete the theatre and he named it the NEW HIPPODROME AND PALACE THEATRE OF VARIETIES.

Signor Pepi was married to Mary, countess de Rossetti. They also had a dog together a Pekinese.

 But Mary passed away on December the 7^th 1915. She was only 46 years old.

Many people say that Pepi and Mary made an exotic and wonderful couple.

Once their dog had passed away Signor Pepi had the dog buried inside the walls of the hippodrome.

Signor Rino Pepi biggest achievement was having Anna Pavlova perform ‘’the swan’’ at the hippodrome. Signor Pepi really liked Anna so he was honoured and he felt it was his huge achievement.  But poor signor Pepi had cancer on his left lung and sadly the day that Anna Pavlova performed he passed away at home on the 17^th of November 1927. He was 55years old.

Once Signor Rino Pepi passed away after 20 long and happy years and not to mention hard work with the theatre, there were many new managers, but all of them seemed to struggle with the theatres books. In 1966 Darlington borough council received full responsibility of the theatre. The NEW HIPPODROME AND PALACE OF VARIETIES was then named DARLINGTON CIVIC THEATRE.