The Hackney Empire has stood in the borough since 1901, surviving decades of change to remain one of Hackney's most recognisable buildings. Its journey from Edwardian music hall to bingo hall and back to a working theatre reflects both the shifting fortunes of variety entertainment and the determination of local campaigners to preserve a piece of the borough's architectural heritage.
A Matcham Masterpiece
Designed by architect Frank Matcham and opened in 1901, the Hackney Empire was built as a suburban variety theatre. It features an ornate terracotta exterior and a 77-galleried auditorium that the architectural writer Nikolaus Pevsner noted as a key example of Victorian and Edwardian design. The building was granted Grade II* listed status on 28 June 1972; Historic England's listing describes it as "among the best-surviving Edwardian suburban variety theatres".
From Stage to Screen to Bingo
The theatre's early years followed the traditional music hall circuit, hosting variety acts that drew audiences from across east London. In the mid-1950s, however, Associated Television (ATV) acquired the building for use as television studios. From 1963 to 1984, the Mecca Organisation operated it as a bingo hall, removing it from live performance use for more than two decades.
The Fight to Reopen
In 1984, the theatre was offered to Cartoon Archetypical Slogan Theatre (CAST), led by Claire and Roland Muldoon, as a London base. Roland Muldoon launched a campaign in 1986 to acquire the freehold and reopen the Empire as a performance venue. The effort gathered support from local residents and performers who argued that the building remained central to Hackney's cultural identity.
Restoration and Refurbishment
A major £17 million refurbishment project, designed by Tim Ronalds Architects with Carr and Angier as theatre consultants, began in 2001. Comedian Griff Rhys Jones led the restoration appeal, and businessman Alan Sugar contributed a significant donation toward the works. The theatre reopened in 2004 with upgraded facilities intended to secure its long-term future as a producing house.
Programming and Partnerships Today
The modern Hackney Empire programmes theatre, opera, comedy, dance, and music. It has collaborated with companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, English Touring Opera, Scottish Opera, and the BBC Concert Orchestra. The venue has also attracted high-profile performers; in September 2023, The Rolling Stones held a news conference there to announce their album Hackney Diamonds.
Community and Youth Work
Beyond its main stage, the Empire maintains a strong local presence. Since 1988, its annual pantomime has offered free tickets to Hackney housing associations, community groups, refuges, and young carers. As of 2022, the Creative Futures programme works with more than 4,000 young people aged 14 to 25 each year and supports a community choir with over 80 regular members. In 2021, singer Leona Lewis became the theatre's patron.