The Hackney Empire
is a theatre on Mare Street, in the London Borough of Hackney, built in 1901 as a music hall.
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History
Hackney Empire is a
grade II* listed building. The theatre was built as a music hall in 1901, designed by the architect
Frank Matcham.
Charlie Chaplin,
WC Fields,
Stan Laurel and
Marie Lloyd all performed there, when the Hackney Empire was a music hall.
ATV bought the theatre to use as studios in the 1950s, and shows such as
Take Your Pick
and
Oh, Boy!
were broadcast live from the venue. Some scenes from
Emergency - Ward 10
were also filmed there. From 1963 to 1984 the theatre was used by the Mecca Organisation as a
bingo hall.
When, in 1984 Mecca found the building too expensive to maintain as a bingo hall, it was offered to C.A.S.T, a satirical touring theatre group, headed by Claire and Roland Muldoon, as a London base. Not only was it used by them, it also mounted successful variety nights headlined by a new breed of
alternative comedy acts, such as
Ben Elton,
Dawn French, and
Jennifer Saunders.
The theatre was threatened with demolition, and in 1986, the actor-manager Roland Muldoon mounted a campaign to acquire the freehold and to re-open the Hackney Empire as a permanent performance space.
Ralph Fiennes played Hamlet to
Francesca Annis's Gertrude in
Jonathan Kent's
Almeida Theatre Company production of
Hamlet
, 28 February-30 March 1995; the production also transferred to the
Belasco Theatre in New York.
Muldoon retired in 2005 and was replaced by Simon Thomsett as Chief Executive.
Stand-up comedy
Hackney Empire was a leading centre in the alternative comedy boom of the 1980s -
Ben Elton,
Dawn French,
Jennifer Saunders,
Jeremy Hardy,
Mark Steel,
Arthur Smith,
Jo Brand,
Harry Hill,
Paul Merton,
Harry Enfield,
Alan Davies,
Bill Bailey,
Russell Brand,
Martha Lewis and Eve Polycarpo have all performed there, amongst many others.
Arthur Smith hosts the important annual
Hackney Empire New Act of the Year competition for up and coming stand-up comedy talent.
Modern times
In 2001, the Empire closed for a £17 million refurbishment project designed by Tim Ronalds Architects, and reopened in 2004 - returned to theatrical use on its 85th birthday. The restoration includes a 60-seat orchestra pit, to make the Empire suitable for opera performance, by companies such as
English Touring Opera. Other new facilities include a studio theatre, educational and hospitality facilities; as well as incorporating the former
Marie Lloyd
public house within the new extension. There are also purpose-built dressing rooms, replacing the original primitive facilities. In addition to Muldoon, the comedian
Griff Rhys Jones led the restoration appeal, with a large donation coming from local businessman
Sir Alan Sugar. It has produced an enormously successful and highly regarded
panto
since the beginning of the current millennium.
Patrons
- Harold Pinter
- Griff Rhys Jones
- Sir Alan Sugar
Transport
The area is well served by buses to all parts of London; the nearest station is
Hackney Central on the
North London Line.
See also
References