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FAQs

Planning Your Visit

Where is The Hullabaloo?

The Hullabaloo is a 5-10 minute walk from Darlington town centre and a 5 minute walk from Darlington Train Station. The address is The Hullabaloo, Borough Road, Darlington DL1 1SG

Please note the building is attached to Darlington Hippodrome but has its own separate entrance on Borough Road. When you arrive, please press the doorbell and a member of our team will open the doors (these open outwards).

How do I get there?

If you are travelling by car:

Approaching from the south:

From the A1, take the A66 (M) exit Junction 57. At the roundabout take the 1st exit on the A66. Take the 2nd exit at the next roundabout and exit towards the town centre, past the Blackwell Grange Hotel on your left. At the Sainsbury’s roundabout, take the 3rd exit which leads onto the Darlington ring road. At the next roundabout, take the 2nd exit, continuing on the ring road, and move into the right-hand lane. At the main traffic lights turn right onto Parkgate. Then turn left onto Borough Road and The Hullabaloo is located on your left.

Approaching from the north:

From the A1, take the A167 exit which is signposted for Darlington (Junction 59). Follow the road into town (about 3 miles) until you reach a large roundabout. Take the first exit, which takes you onto the Darlington ring road. Go straight over the next roundabout (2nd exit). At the main set of traffic lights, turn left onto Parkgate. Then turn left onto Borough Road and The Hullabaloo is located on your left.

Approaching from the east:

Follow the A66(M) towards Darlington. At Little Burdon roundabout, take the first exit (A66). Go straight over the following roundabout, at the next roundabout take the third exit towards Darlington on the B6280. Continue on the B6280 Yarm Road. After about a mile take the second exit at the mini roundabout onto Parkgate; go past the entrance to Darlington railway station on your left. Then turn right and The Hullabaloo is located on your left.

If you are travelling by train:
The Hullabaloo is a five-minute walk from Darlington’s train station. Darlington is a frequent stop on the East Coast mainline route as well as local routes.

For further information and to help plan your visit, please visit –

Train Tickets | Buy Cheap Train Tickets Online | Northern (northernrailway.co.uk)

If you are travelling on the East Coast line, visit LNER | London North Eastern Railway

If you are travelling by bus:
There is a bus stop around the corner from The Hullabaloo on Parkgate. The following services are available from this bus stop (Darlington Hippodrome):

Service 2/2A Red Hall to Branksome

Service 12 Hurworth to Teesside Airport

13A/13B Darlington to Firthmoor

Arriva UK Bus | Buy Bus Tickets & Check Live Bus Timetables (arrivabus.co.uk)

Where can I park?

The entrance to The Hullabaloo is on Borough Road. The Hullabaloo does not have a specific car park.

There are some short stay car parking spaces on Borough Road and the streets that come from it (Melland Street, Sanderson Street and Middleton Street).

Some of these spaces are unrestricted bays and can be used all day. Others are short stays for up to 2 hours. Make sure you check the signage if you are parking in any of these areas as these streets also have permit bays which won’t be suitable.

Alternatively, there’s Parkgate Carpark https://goo.gl/maps/csPvZ87jDf58vZ639

You can pay using the Connect Cashless Mobile Phone App and the code for the carpark is displayed clearly. It is £1 for up to 2 hours, £2 for up to 3 hours and £3 all day (with a 25p admin charge when using the App). You can also pay with cash.

It is approximately a 3 minute walk to The Hullabaloo front doors from Parkgate Carpark.

Or a council run carpark Park Place West Carpark https://goo.gl/maps/FBq1zF568MiorgGV8  

This is payable via a Mobile Phone App. The machine also accepts cash, card, or contactless payments. It is approximately a 6 minute walk to The Hullabaloo front doors from Park Place West Carpark. Please note that if using this car park you will need to cross a busy road when walking to and from The Hullabaloo. There is a traffic light crossing opposite the entrance to Darlington Hippodrome.

I am a Blue Badge holder, where can I park?

Blue badge holders can park on double yellow lines directly outside The Hullabaloo providing there are no loading restrictions in that area. They can park here for up to 3 hours when displaying their timeclock and badge. Blue badge holders cannot park in loading/unloading bays.

What time is The Hullabaloo open?

The Hullabaloo is open between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Saturday. It is closed on all Sundays and bank holidays unless there is a performance or event on.

Outside of these times, the venue will open 30 minutes before a performance begins, so for a show starting at 10.00am, the venue will be open from 9.30am to allow you time to collect your tickets.

Can I buy food and drinks at The Hullabaloo?

At The Hullabaloo we have a café where you can purchase food and drink. If you are on your way in to watch a show or take part in an activity, please make sure you ask for your drink in a takeaway cup with a secure lid for safety reasons. If you have a reusable coffee cup with a lid, we’d encourage you to use this to help reduce our environmental impact.

There are circumstances where drinks (hot or cold) and food will not be permitted in the theatre. These exceptions are due to the nature of the performance, the show might be interactive or close to the performers or will be a baby show. You will be told this by Hullabaloo staff on the way into the theatre space or by café staff if you are asking about buying any food or drink ahead of the show. You will not be able to take any hot drinks in to a baby show for safety reasons.

Eating and drinking can be distracting for performers and audiences so we’d rather you were enjoying the show, but we do recognise that sometimes children need a snack. If you need to feed your child, then please do so but we’d prefer you not to bring anything too loud or that rustles. You will often be sat very close to the performance space and sometimes on big cushions around the edge of the space so will be visible to the performers and other audience members. We’d appreciate it if you waited to eat your snacks until after the performance has finished in these instances.

All food and drink consumed at The Hullabaloo must be bought from the café (except milk for babies and water). The café is managed by Darlington Hippodrome, so you’ll see their friendly faces and they source the food on offer.

There is a microwave available for members of the public to use to heat food up for babies. This is situated near the big armchairs and can be used by anyone at any time.

Food and drink is not allowed in the Creative Play space.

Audience Expectations

I’m worried my child won’t sit still and watch the show. Will this be a problem?

Not at all.

At The Hullabaloo we want every child to engage with the performance in the way that is right for them.  We have created a relaxed environment where children and families can be themselves and experience the magic of live theatre in their own way. By this we mean that we have an informal friendly atmosphere where we expect children to behave like children, to be able to enjoy and process the experience as they need to.  We don’t expect all children to sit still and watch quietly but instead we invite children to express their emotions and enjoyment throughout the performance in a way that suits them.

We are happy for children to react and engage however they want, they can laugh, shout, make noises, be silly, show emotions, ask questions, letting their experience be free and magical. We believe this allows children to be individuals, showing their curiosity and identity, and helping them to learn, process and query what they are experiencing. If a child wants to be active in the space and is engaged in what is going on, then they are welcome to do so.

We do have some gentle guidelines in the theatre space and ask grown-ups to help us keep children and toddlers off the performance area for safety reasons, however we do understand that everything is quite exciting at The Hullabaloo and little legs want to wander around so we will support you to allow them to do this safely.

Staff will speak with the accompanying grownup if the child is actively disrupting the experience for others or putting anyone’s safety or well-being at risk and will support them to stay in the space or take a break

What happens if I am late?

We understand that getting everyone out of the house on time is sometimes a challenge, so we are happy to allow latecomers into a performance whenever possible, however this does depend on the performance and the company presenting it. For example, if the show is 30 minutes long and a family is 20 minutes late, then it may be more disruptive for the performers and the rest of the audience to let latecomers in at that stage. We’d usually expect all audiences to be in and seated up to 15 minutes after the start time, but we will try our best to accommodate anyone arriving later than this.

If you do arrive late, see our Hullabaloo Host or a member of box office staff who will check your tickets and advise on if it’s okay to enter the theatre. You may have to wait until an appropriate point in the show to avoid too much disruption.

Is there somewhere I can leave my buggy?

Yes, we have a buggy park through the double glass doors to the left of the café counter. Please see our Hullabaloo Host when you arrive, and they can let you through. Any items left in this area are left at your own risk.

Please note that at particularly busy times, the buggy park may be full so you might want to leave the buggy in the car if you can.

Tickets

Do I have to book a ticket for my baby (under 12 months old) to see the show?

If you are booking to see a show aimed at babies (under 12 or 24 months depending on the show), then yes, you do have to buy a ticket for them (and you) because the show has been made for them.

If you are booking to see a show with an older child and the 12month old (or younger) will be coming with you, you must still book a ticket for health and safety reasons, but this ticket will be free. You will need to book an “Adult + babe in arms” ticket.

Can I bring a younger sibling with me to watch a show? Can I bring an older sibling with me to watch a show?

The age range for each show is advisory, but we’ve carefully thought it through to to make sure the show is suitable for a child of that age. When we do this, we consider things like: is it non-verbal (no words in the show), does it have a lot of language, how complicated is the story, what is the show about, how long is the show?

For example, a show aimed at 5 years+ is likely to more words and a more complicated storyline than shows for younger ones and so a younger child may find it more difficult to follow.

However, these are just advisory and you know your child best so you are welcome to bring siblings of different ages to a show, but please be aware that the show has been designed for a specific age group. If you would like to talk to someone about age suitability, please do ring us on 01325 405680, email info@theatrehullabaloo.org.uk or message us on socials and we’ll be happy to advise.

Can I come to The Hullabaloo for free?

Yes, absolutely. Our Creative Play space is free for anyone to use between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Saturday*

*very infrequently we do have to close the space within these times so please check our social media before you set out on your journey.

We are a charity and rely heavily on donations, so if you are able to make a donation , please do so as it helps us to keep activities free for everyone to enjoy. You can make a donation online here https://www.theatrehullabaloo.org.uk/we-couldnt-do-it-without-you/ or by putting cash into our donation box outside our Creative Play space. We also have a contactless donation point here too.

Although our Creative Play space is free to play in, the majority of our theatre shows and events are ticketed, with a cost attached and need to be booked in advance. As a charity, we work hard to subsidise all activities to make them available to as many people as possible.

How can I buy tickets?

You can buy tickets by visiting our show pages on the website https://www.theatrehullabaloo.org.uk/shows/

By calling the box office on 01325 405405

Or by visiting the box office in person. We share a box office with Darlington Hippodrome so on days when we do not have a show, you will need to go through to the desks at Darlington Hippodrome. Our box office is open 10.00am – 6.00pm, Monday-Saturday.

Can I get a refund?

If you are unable to attend a performance or event, we can either change your ticket for a different show or put credit on your account to book a ticket in future. Credit can only to be used on future shows and events at The Hullabaloo. To receive credit, you must let us know at least 24 hours before the show starts. After that time, we are not able to change your ticket or offer credit.

We are unable to offer refunds.

Do I have to book to come to the Creative Play Space?

No. We do not operate a booking system for the Creative Play space. You can just turn up and if there is space, you will be able to play straight away. We do have a waiting list for busy days, so you may need to wait a short while but we have a book corner and activity sheets to do while you wait. Your wait is usually no longer than 45 minutes.

Can I bring a group to play in the Creative Play Space?

If there are more than 6 people (including both children and adults) in your group, please contact the office and we can advise on how best to experience our Creative Play space. This includes nursery and school groups.

You can call us on 01325 405680 or email us info@theatrehullabaloo.org.uk

How long can we stay in the Creative Play space for?

We would expect families to stay in the space for 30-40 minutes depending on the child. During our busier periods, we will ask you to leave the space after 30 minutes to allow other people to access it. If the space is quiet, you may stay as long as you like.

Can I book a companion ticket?

If you are a disabled adult and are entitled to a complimentary Companion ticket to enable you to bring your child to an event or show at The Hullabaloo, you can book this ticket with the box office.

Because these tickets are complimentary, they are not available to book online. Instead, these tickets must be booked by contacting our Box Office either in-person or over the phone on 01325 405405.

Companion tickets are for adults with a registered disability who wish to bring another adult to assist and support them in bringing their child(ren) to a performance. A disabled adult is entitled to one free companion ticket.

If it is the child that is disabled, then the accompanying adult will be required to purchase a general ticket to attend with the child. This will not be a free companion ticket.

Theatre Hullabaloo shares a box office system with Darlington Hippodrome, therefore we follow the same guidelines around proof of ID for companion tickets.

Additional Access Needs

What do you mean by “relaxed venue”?

At The Hullabaloo we want every child to experience performance and play in the best way for them. We have created a relaxed environment where children and families can be themselves and experience the magic of live theatre and activity in their own way. We have an informal friendly atmosphere where we expect children to behave like children, to be able to enjoy and process the experience as they need to. We don’t expect all children to sit still and watch quietly but instead we invite children to express their emotions and enjoyment throughout the performance in a way that suits them.

We are happy for children to react and engage however they want, they can laugh, shout, make noises, be silly, show emotions, ask questions, letting their experience be free and magical. We believe this allows children to be individuals, showing their curiosity and identity, and helping them to learn, process and query what they are experiencing. If a child wants to be active in the space and is engaged in what is going on, then they are welcome to do so.

We do have some gentle guidelines in the theatre space and ask grown ups to help us keep children and toddlers off the performance area for safety reasons, however we do understand that everything is quite exciting at The Hullabaloo and little legs want to wander around so we will support you to allow them to do this safely.

What do you mean by “Relaxed Performance” (also referred to as “neurodiverse friendly”)?

Although The Hullabaloo is always pretty chilled, we do have specific “Relaxed / neurodiverse friendly Performances” where families with additional needs might feel more comfortable.

The performance / event / activity will not have been changed from the standard version, but by identifying it as “relaxed/neuro-diverse friendly” we hope to provide an inclusive environment where parents and families feel comfortable in that space no matter what their needs. This is because, in theory, every family in that performance has experience with neurodiversity in some form and may be more familiar with the behaviours within these families e.g. more noise or movement. However, the show itself, is exactly the same as a standard performance.

Anyone is welcome to book tickets for any show or activity that they feel is suitable for them and their family. If they have a neurodiverse child, they do not have to attend the identified “neurodiverse friendly/ relaxed performance” show. Similarly, you do not have to have a neurodiverse person in your group to attend a “neurodiverse friendly/relaxed performance” show.

Tickets can be booked as standard via the box office in person, on the phone or online.

For these sessions in particular, we are able to offer the following:

  • pre-show information is available to help you prepare for your visit. This will include more details about the show, for example, if puppets are used, if there is a flashing light sequence, if the space goes dark at any point. Where possible, we will also include a Visual Story for the building and the show itself.
  • you can peek into the theatre before the show begins (pop us an email to info@theatrehullabaloo.org.uk to arrange this in advance)

If you want any further information on any of our shows to be able to decide if the show is suitable for your young person, then please get in touch with us on 01325 405680 or info@theatrehullabaloo.org.uk and we can have a further discussion.

What do you mean by “BSL”?

BSL stands for British Sign Language

A BSL interpreted performance will have a person stood on the stage to one side who will use British Sign language to interpret the language in the performance for the audience.

A BSL interpreted show and non-verbal show will be clearly marked on the website and on marketing material.

Tickets can be booked for these shows as standard via box office or online.

Anyone can attend a BSL interpreted performance.

Do you have changing facilities?

Our toilets have been designed for children so have both children and adult toilet seats and handwashing facilities at different heights.

We have one separate baby changing facility that does not have a toilet in it.

We have one gender neutral disabled toilet.

We do not have adult changing facilities or a hoist. This is due to space restrictions.

Do you have a disabled toilet?

We have one gender neutral disabled toilet. More toilets are available through the adjoining doors to Darlington Hippodrome if needed.

More about us

Are you part of Darlington Hippodrome?

No. The Hullabaloo and Darlington Hippodrome are run by two separate organisations, however we do share the same café and box office staff, so you’ll see some familiar faces across both buildings when buying your coffee and tickets to a show.

You’ll also notice that the food offer is the same in both cafes as our friends at the Hippodrome manage this for us too.

Theatre Hullabaloo is a charity and all of the donations made go directly to the activities you see happening in our building. Our primary funder is Arts Council England.

Darlington Hippodrome is run by a brilliant team within Darlington Borough Council. See their website for more information: https://www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/

I’d like to find out more information regularly, how can I do this?

You can sign up to receive our newsletter here Theatre Hullabaloo

And follow us on social media:

Facebook – Theatre Hullabaloo – @TheatreHullabaloo / The Hullabaloo – @TheHullabaloo

Instagram – @theatrehullabaloo

Twitter – Theatre Hullabaloo – @HullabalooTweet  / The Hullabaloo – @HullabalooHome

Or pop in and pick up a brochure or chat to our lovely team of Hullabaloo Hosts.

What is the difference between Theatre Hullabaloo and The Hullabaloo?

Theatre Hullabaloo is the organisation that delivers the exciting programme of shows and events in the building. We have an office based upstairs at The Hullabaloo and are a registered charity and a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England.

Theatre Hullabaloo is one of the UK’s leading children’s arts organisations. We believe that creativity should be part of everybody’s childhood, and we make, produce, present, programme and advocate for the arts as an irreducible part of child development, with a particular specialism in creativity for the very young.

Our vision is of a world where art and creativity for children is as brilliant and inspiring as they are and is a fundamental part of everybody’s childhood. Children have a right to art that reflects and challenges their experiences and helps them to understand and make meaning in an increasingly complicated world. We use creativity to support children and the grown-ups in their lives, to have joyful, affirming experiences together that support them to be the best they can be for each other

The Hullabaloo is the name of our lovely building, which opened in December 2017. It is a purpose-designed theatre for children and families based in Darlington and is seen as a National Centre of Excellence in work for young audiences.

Visual Story for Your Visit

Download Our Visual Story

We've created a handy document that runs through our facilities and explains what you can expect when you come to visit us.

Hullabaloo in the Park FAQs

Hullabaloo in the Park FAQs

We've created a PDF document with a range of questions we feel you may want to find out the answer to. Please download the file below.