 Hackney Empire in 2019 | |
 Interactive map of Hackney Empire | |
| Location | Mare StreetHackney Central London,E8 United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°32′44″N0°03′20″W / 51.5455°N 0.0555°W /51.5455; -0.0555 |
| Public transit |  Hackney Central |
| Owner | Hackney Empire Trust |
| Designation | Grade II* |
| Type | Former music hall |
| Capacity | 1,275 |
| Production | Visiting productions |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 9 December 1901; 123 years ago (1901-12-09) |
| Closed | 1956–62 television studio 1963–86 bingo hall |
| Rebuilt | 2004 (Tim Ronalds Architects) |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | The Hackney Empire |
| Designated | 28 June 1972 |
| Reference no. | 1226960 |
| Architect | Frank Matcham |
| Website | |
| hackneyempire.co.uk | |
Hackney Empire is a theatre onMare Street, inHackney in theLondon Borough of Hackney. Originally designed byFrank Matcham it was built in 1901 as amusic hall, and expanded in 2001. Described byThe Guardian as "the most beautiful theatre in London"[1] it is anArts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. In 2021, pop singerLeona Lewis became the patron of the Empire.[2]
The architectural writerNikolaus Pevsner described the Hackney Empire as "among the best-surviving Edwardian suburban variety theatres".[3]Samantha Ellis inThe Guardian writes, "FromChaplin toGracie, the Hackney Empire played host to the greatest stars of music hall".[4]
Hackney Empire is agrade II* listed building. The theatre was built as a music hall in 1901, designed by the architectFrank Matcham. Architecture scholarNicholas Pevsner described the "splendid Hackney Empire, with its ornateterracotta exterior and sumptuous seventy-seven galleried auditorium" as a key example of Victorian and Edwardian architecture.[5] There is a statue ofThalia, the Greekmuse of comedy, on the roof of the theatre: this was removed in 1979, but later reinstalled.[6]
Charlie Chaplin,Gracie Fields,Stanley Holloway,Stan Laurel,Marie Lloyd andJulie Andrews all performed there, when the Hackney Empire was a music hall.[4]
ATV bought the theatre to use as studios in the mid-1950s and shows such asTake Your Pick andOh, Boy! were broadcast live. Certain episodes ofOpportunity Knocks were also filmed at the theatre. Some scenes fromEmergency – Ward 10 were also filmed there. From 1963 to 1984, the theatre was used by theMecca Organisation as abingo hall;wrestling matches also occurred there during the 1960s.[7]
In 1984, Mecca found the building too expensive to maintain as a bingo hall, and it was offered to Cartoon Archetypical Slogan Theatre (CAST), asatirical touring theatre group, headed by Claire andRoland Muldoon, as a London base.[8] They also mounted successful variety nights headlined by a new breed ofalternative comedy acts, such asBen Elton,Dawn French, andJennifer Saunders.[3]
The theatre was threatened with demolition, and in 1986, actor-manager Roland Muldoon mounted a campaign to acquire the freehold and to re-open the Hackney Empire as a permanent performance space; allowing the theatre to return to theatrical use for its 85th anniversary.[3]
Ralph Fiennes playedHamlet toFrancesca Annis'Gertrude inJonathan Kent'sAlmeida Theatre Company production ofHamlet, 28 February – 30 March 1995.[3] In 1996,mime/choreographerLindsay Kemp premieredVariété', his first British production in over 20 years, there andSlava's Snowshow, featuring the famous Russian clownSlava Polunin, played the theatre several times.[3]
Hackney Empire was a leading centre in thealternative comedy boom of the 1980s, and remains a venue for comedy. Comedians who have performed at the venue includeFrankie Boyle,Jack Whitehall,Jo Brand,Russell Brand,John Cleese,Jackie Clune,Greg Davies,Felix Dexter,Ben Elton,Harry Enfield,Craig Ferguson,Dawn French,Jeremy Hardy,Lily Savage,Lenny Henry,Bill Hicks,Harry Hill,Mark Linn-Baker,Paul Merton,Jennifer Saunders,Arthur Smith,Tim Vine,[3]Tommy Cockles,Hattie Hayridge,Mark Steel, andMichael C. Burgess.[9]
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Hackney Empire's artistic programme includes: theatre, opera, comedy, dance and music. Hackney Empire collaborate and partner with regional and international companies and artists including theRoyal Shakespeare Company,English Touring Opera,Scottish Opera and theBBC Concert Orchestra.
In 2001, the Empire closed for a £17m refurbishment project designed by Tim Ronalds Architects with Carr and Angier acting as theatre consultants.[10] It was reopened in 2004. The restoration included the addition of a 60-seat orchestra pit to make the Empire suitable for opera performances by companies such asEnglish Touring Opera, the addition of a flytower with provision for counterweight flying and a reduction of the stage rake from 1 in 24 to 1 in 30. Among other new facilities were a studio theatre and educational and hospitality facilities, and greatly improved dressing rooms.
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Additionally, theMarie Lloyd public house was incorporated into the new extension. In addition to Muldoon, the comedianGriff Rhys Jones led the restoration appeal, with a large donation coming from local businessmanAlan Sugar.[3] The theatre received another grant of £400,000 from Arts Council England in 2019 to make building improvements and increase community outreach.[11]
The John Bishop Show was presented and recorded at the Hackney Empire and aired onBBC One from 30 May 2015 to 18 July 2015.[12] Since 2014,the British Soap Awards have also been filmed at the Hackney Empire.
It has producedpantomimes since 1988, providing free tickets to local Housing Associations, Community Groups, local refuges and young carers. Alongside its main-stage programme, Hackney Empire provides performing arts activities for local young people. As of 2022[update] its Creative Futures programme works with over 4,000 young people annually, aged 14–25, and runs a community choir that includes over 80 regular members.[13]
On 6 September 2023, the theatre hosted a news conference to announce a new album byThe Rolling Stones,Hackney Diamonds.Jimmy Fallon interviewed the three remaining stars of the group.[14]
The nearest station isHackney Central onLondon OvergroundNorth London line.
