The Golders Green Hippodrome, North End Road, Barnet, London

See also in this area - The Orpheum Theatre, Golder's Green

Above - The Golder's Green Hippodrome during the run of 'Can-Can' at the Theatre on the 29th of October 1956 - Courtesy Gerry Atkins

The Golders Green Hippodrome was constructed in 1913 and treated externally in the modern English Renaissance Style, and internally with an auditorium decorated in the French Neo-Grecian Style, all to the designs of the well known Theatre Architect Bertie Crewe. It was built by F. G. Minter of Putney for the Golders Green Amusement and Development Co, run by Walter Gibbons.

Right - A programme for 'Variation on a Theme' by Terence Rattigan with Margaret Leighton and directed by John Gielgud at the Golders Green Hippodrome. Some notes from this programme can be seen below.

The Theatre opened on Boxing Day, the 26th of December 1913, with a large seating capacity for 2,245 people in its Stalls and Two Circles. The Theatre's Stage was also very large, 90 feet wide with a proscenium opening of 40 foot and a height of 30 foot. As with many Hippodrome Theatres of the period the Stage was fitted with a giant Trap in the centre which could be opened to reveal a huge Water Tank holding 20,00 gallons of water. The opening performance included the Illusionist David Devant and prices ranged from 3d to 10s and 6d, and 7s and 6d. Some internal images of the Theatre can be seen further down on this page and Bertie Crew's original plans for the Theatre can be seen here.

Left - A Programme for 'Max Miller, the Cheeky Chappie, and All Star Variety' at the Golders Green Hippodrome in April 1946 - Courtesy Philip Paine.

The Theatre's original designs made little provision for Front of House facilities and there were no bars at all. Later designs did incorporate bars but even so FOH areas were very cramped for such a large Theatre and there was no room to extend these once the Theatre was built.

The Theatre's situation next to Golders Green Underground station however, made it easily accessible to Londoners and it was soon a regular venue for pre and post London tours and became famous for its annual Pantomimes which continued right up until its final closure as a live Theatre in 1968

The last production at the Golders Green Hippodrome was the Pantomime 'Sleeping Beauty' which closed at the Theatre on Saturday the 17th of February 1968.

Right - An Article on the Golders Green Hippodrome's Farewell Spectacular - From The Stage Newspaper, 23rd of January 1968.

This was followed by a special Gala Evening called 'Hippodrome Adieu' to acknowledge the Theatre's end on Sunday the 18th of February 1968 which included many of the stars of the day (See Programme Left and Article Right).

Left - 'Hipodrome Adieu' the programme for the last night at the Golders Green Hippodrome on the 18th of February, 1968 - Courtesy Mike Luther.

Stars for the final performance at the Theatre included Avril Angers, David and Jonathon, Simon Dupree & the big sound, Ray Fell, Bud Flanagan, Alan Freeman, David Jacobs, David Kossoff, Vera Lynn, Norrie Paramor, Ralph Reader & the Gang Show, Joan Regan, Julie Rogers, Danny la Rue, Don Smoothy, Status Quo and Jimmy Wheeler.

The finale was broadcast live on the Light Programme with David Jacobs and Vera Lynn. At the end of the show the House Curtain was never dropped and all the artistes just casually left the stage, then the lights were dimmed. Apparently a very nostalgic evening which incidentally ended later than a Ken Dodd show!

After the Theatre closed it was then converted for use as a TV studio and later to a Radio Studio and Concert Hall by the BBC. It's seating capacity was reduced at this time to a more modest 700.

Above - A Pantomime Programme for the Golder's Green Hippodrome in 1966/7 - Courtesy Martin Clark. The Cast included Sid James, Kenneth Connor, Jim Dailey, Terry Wayne, Frances Barlow, Alan Haynes, Erica Yorke, Helen James, Harold, Holness, Martin Gluth, Joanna Grant, the Bel-Canto Singers, and the Hippodrome boys and girls.

The alterations to the Theatre for Television did obscure parts of the auditorium but not irreversibly so. The stalls floor was leveled for orchestral use but the original rake was preserved below it, and the rear of the stalls was converted for Control rooms.

Right - A Variety Programme from 1949, and a 1940s Pantomime Programme for Jack & The Beanstalk, at the Golders Green Hippodrome.

The audience were now accommodated in part of the orchestra floor and the first balcony. The second balcony was unused and hidden but apparently still retains its original seats. The upper section of the fly tower and wings of the stage were converted to a rehearsal room, band room, offices and plant.

More information on the Theatre's time as a BBC Studio can be found here.

Above - The Golders Green Hippodrome from an early postcard.

In 2003 the BBC announced that they were to leave the Hippodrome and the Theatre was put up for sale.

Right - A Google StreetView Image showing the Golders Green Hippodrome in August 2022 - Click to Interact.

Subsequent site visits in 2004 by the Save London's Theatres Campaign found the Theatre to be in 'generally quite good condition' despite the fact that there had been some damage to the plasterwork in the auditorium and an earlier collapse of part of the ceiling had been repaired by the BBC at considerable cost.

In 2007, despite being Grade II Listed, the Theatre's status hung in the balance, and it was put on English Heritage's buildings at risk register. Eventually the El Shaddai International Christian Centre bought the Theatre for an estimated £5million.

A later bid by a Muslim Group who hoped to turn it into an Islamic Centre failed due to local traffic and parking concerns.

In late 2021 the Theatre was bought by Hillsong Church who planned to use it for their services and also to hire it out as a venue at other times. It is hoped that the building will be fully restored in due course but this may be unlikely as there is so much structural alteration that would need to be done, especially to the stage and stage house, which has been significantly altered over the years. Some photographs of the Theatre in March 2025 (shown left) however, show that Hillsong were true to their word and have let out the Theatre for various concerts in 2025 which will help to bring in revenue for the Theatre's restoration.

Left - Photographs of the Golders Green Hippodrome during a Concert for 'Man in the Mirror,' a Tribute to Michael Jackson, in March 2025. The Theatre was let out for the occasion by the Hillsong Church - Photographs Courtesy Martin Clark.

Some more information by Mike Luther and his 1960s internal images of the Theatre can be seen below and Bertie Crew's original plans for the Theatre can be seen further down.

You may like to visit Hillsong's own Website for the Theatre here.

Working at the Golders Green Hippodrome in the 1960s by Mike Luther

Above - The auditorium of the Golders Green Hippodrome in a photograph taken from the stage in 1968 - Courtesy Mike Luther who worked as an electrician the Theatre from 1960 until it closed in February 1968.

Above - The stage of the Golders Green Hippodrome in a photograph taken from the front of the circle in 1968 - Courtesy Mike Luther who worked as an electrician the Theatre from 1960 until it closed in February 1968.

The Golders Green Hippodrome was equipped with a 64 way Grand Master lighting switch board, operated for a time by Mike Luther, who was a Dayman electrician at the Theatre from 1960 until it closed in 1968. Mike has sent in some photos of the Theatre which are shown on this page, and the Grand Master, shown here and below, which were taken in 1968 shortly before the Theatre closed.

Right - The 64 way Grand Master at the Golders Green Hippodrome in 1968 - Courtesy Mike Luther.

Mike writes: 'I was a dayman at the Hippodrome for about 8 years, I was lucky enough to be taken straight on as Stage Manager for Delfont pantomimes 1968 Manchester Palace, 1969 Bristol Hippodrome and 1970 Sunderland Empire, all massive houses. Its nice to look back through your site and see the 'insides' again.

Left - Mike Luther beside the Grand Master at the Golders Green Hippodrome in 1968 - Courtesy Mike Luther.

My Summer seasons those years were all at Scarborough Floral Hall for Richard Stone as Company/Stage Director with massive names. I also did 3 years resident SM for all Butlin's stages based at Bognor. I had a good 4 years after the Hippodrome closed but I will always remeber my initial time there. - Mike Luther.

Above - The Grand Master lighting control at the Golders Green Hippodrome in a photograph taken from the stage in 1968 - Courtesy Mike Luther.

Above - The Prompt Corner at the Golders Green Hippodrome in a photograph taken in 1968 - Courtesy Mike Luther.

Bertie Crew's original design drawings for the Golders Green Hippodrome

Above - Bertie Crewe's original design drawing of the West Elevation of the Golders Green Hippodrome.

Above - Bertie Crewe's original design drawing of the South Elevation of the Golders Green Hippodrome.

Above - Bertie Crewe's original design drawing of a section through the centre line of the Golders Green Hippodrome.

Above - Bertie Crewe's original design drawing of a section through the Foyers of the Golders Green Hippodrome.

Above - Bertie Crewe's original Stalls Plan of the Golders Green Hippodrome. And Bertie Crewe's original Circle Plan of the Golders Green Hippodrome.

Above - Bertie Crewe's original Front Circle Plan of the Golders Green Hippodrome. And Bertie Crewe's original Gallery Plan of the Golders Green Hippodrome.

Bertie Crewe's Original Design Drawings shown on this page are Courtesy Jean Holden of Michael Holden Associates and kindly loaned to this site by the Save London's Theatres Campaign.

Margaret Leighton at the Golders Green Hippodrome

Notes in the programme shown right say 'For the last three years, the tall, willowy Margaret Leighton has been starring in London and New York in a dual role in Terence Rattigan's " Separate Tables." Author and star first met when she appeared in the film of " The Winslow Boy " some time ago, but they did not really become friends until he noticed her performance in Separate Tables."

Right - A Programme for 'Variation on a Theme' by Terence Rattigan with Margaret Leighton, shown below left, and directed by John Gielgud at the Golders Green Hippodrome.

"Having watched her closely in this play," he said, " I began to think that I must write something for her. It is a wonderful inspiration having a personality in view as you write. So I worked and worked and promised Margaret a new play as a Christmas present."

By sending her a very roughly typed copy of Variation on a Theme he just managed to get it to her by Christmas Eve. " You can play it anywhere in the world-even Tokio if you can learn Japanese," he told her.'

The above article is from the 'Variation on a Theme' Programme shown above right.