Sasha has recently moved from Ukraine to Darlington, and has loved her time in the town. One of her favourite things has been Darlington Hippodrome, and she's been able to see a few shows through A Place For Everyone Fund. Here's what she had to say:
"Hello, my name is Oleksandra and I prefer to be called Sasha. I came to Darlington four months ago with my mom Inna and travelled from our family home on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. We love everything about Darlington and in particular the beautiful theatre.
I have been to the Hippodrome twice and each time it was spectacular! My first visit was to see a Miss Marple play which I enjoyed so much. The acting, scenery, theatre staff, displays and comfortable seating made my first experience so memorable. It was so exciting to be in an English theatre and I was on the edge of my seat fascinated how this piece of art is presented in another culture.
My second visit to the Hippodrome was to see a ballet called ‘The Nutcracker’. The scenery was so well-designed that I could see all the details from the dress circle. Even though the troupe wasn't very big, they gave a feeling of a much bigger cast dancing on the stage as dancers changed their costumes quickly. Moreover, I was captivated by how dancers' rich facial expressions complemented their moves and made the audience understand the emotions they represented without any words. In addition, the performance was complimented by the talented orchestra who accompanied the ballet to create the magical story."
This was all made possible through our A Place For Everyone Fund. We believe in the transformative power of the arts and think that everyone has the right to experience theatre and participate in creative activity.
A Place for Everyone opens up the theatre to audiences, practitioners and performers, regardless of social, physical or economic barriers. Since the fund's launch in February 2019, £66,000 has been raised from donations from individuals, businesses and charitable trusts.
To support A Place for Everyone, donate when buying tickets through our box office or online, or contact hippodrome.boxoffice@darlington.gov.uk
If you're involved with a group which would benefit from the scheme, contact hippolearning@darlington.gov.uk.