Theatres · London
Hackney Empire
In or near City of London.
Hackney Empire is a theatre in the United Kingdom.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 2 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Hackney Central · 0.2 km
- Wheelchair accessible
Getting there & planning your visit
Hackney Empire is located at postcode E8 1EJ and is accessible via Hackney Central railway station, which is 0.2 km away. Entry details are not specified, but the venue is wheelchair accessible.
About
Hackney Empire is a working theatre in the United Kingdom, listed in OpenStreetMap as a public performance venue. Designed by Frank Matcham. OpenStreetMap heritage rating: 2/5. Address: 291, Mare Street, London, E8 1EJ. Coordinates: 51.5456°, -0.0557°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
Hackney Empire is a theatre on Mare Street, in Hackney in the London Borough of Hackney. Originally designed by Frank Matcham it was built in 1901 as a music hall, and expanded in 2001. Described by The Guardian as "the most beautiful theatre in London" it is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. In 2021, pop singer Leona Lewis became the patron of the Empire. The architectural writer Nikolaus Pevsner described the Hackney Empire as "among the best-surviving Edwardian suburban variety theatres".
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Official information
Hackney Empire is a historic venue that has been entertaining audiences for 124 years with a variety of performances including theatre, comedy, music, and dance. Visitors can enjoy a diverse range of shows and events throughout the year.
From the Wikipedia article
Hackney Empire is a theatre on Mare Street, in Hackney in the London Borough of Hackney. Originally designed by Frank Matcham it was built in 1901 as a music hall, and expanded in 2001. Described by The Guardian as "the most beautiful theatre in London" it is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. In 2021, pop singer Leona Lewis became the patron of the Empire. The architectural writer Nikolaus Pevsner described the Hackney Empire as "among the best-surviving Edwardian suburban variety theatres". Samantha Ellis in The Guardian writes, "From Chaplin to Gracie, the Hackney Empire played host to the greatest stars of music hall".
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
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. Architecture scholar Nicholas Pevsner described the "splendid Hackney Empire, with its ornate terracotta exterior and sumptuous seventy-seven galleried auditorium" as a key example of Victorian and Edwardian architecture. There is a statue of Thalia, the Greek muse of comedy, on the roof of the theatre: this was removed in 1979, but later reinstalled. Charlie Chaplin, Gracie Fields, Stanley Holloway, Stan Laurel, Marie Lloyd and Julie Andrews all performed there, when the Hackney Empire was a music hall. In 1984, Mecca found the building too expensive to…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.5456, -0.0557
- District
- Hackney
- Parish
- Hackney, unparished area
- Postcode
- E8 1EJ
- Parliamentary constituency
- Hackney South and Shoreditch
- Established
- 1901
- Nearest railway station
- Hackney Central — 0.2 km
- Official site
- www.hackneyempire.co.uk
Sources
- osm: w45748937 (ODbL)
- wikipedia: Hackney Empire (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Hackney empire 1.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Hackney Empire?
- Hackney Empire is in London, United Kingdom (postcode E8 1EJ), in the parish of Hackney, unparished area.
- What is Hackney Empire?
- Hackney Empire is a theatre in the United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Hackney Empire?
- The nearest railway station is Hackney Central, about 0.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode E8 1EJ.
- When was Hackney Empire built?
- Built or established in 1901. Designed by Frank Matcham.
- Who owns Hackney Empire?
- Hackney Empire is owned by Hackney Empire Trust.
- Is Hackney Empire a listed building?
- Hackney Empire is officially recognised as Grade II* listed building listed.
- How do I get to Hackney Empire?
- The nearest railway station is Hackney Central, about 0.2 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode E8 1EJ.