Sir Lenny Henry, Nish Kumar and Tameka Empson are among seven new patrons of Hackney Empire, the theatre announced on 3 November as it marks its 125th anniversary. The others are the composer Renell Shaw, the Heartstopper actor Corinna Brown, the comedian and Empire pantomime regular Kat B, and the illusion designer Paul Kieve. They join the existing patrons Clive Rowe and Leona Lewis.
The theatre on Mare Street opened in 1901 as a music hall designed by Frank Matcham. Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, Marie Lloyd and Julie Andrews all performed there, Chortle noted.
What the patrons said
Henry recorded his 1989 stand-up special Live and Unleashed at the Empire. “This lovely theatre became a launch pad for the next stage of my career leading to movies, hit TV series and further appearances that were always exhilarating and culturally uplifting,” he said. “The theatre acts as community glue and a place to go if you want to be seen and supported.” He returned to its stage on 3 November with his new show, Still at Large.
Kumar said: “Hackney Empire is a perfect room, both for performers and audiences. It’s got an incredible history and is so important to the local community.” He added that the Empire was where he first saw comedy and decided to make it his career.
Empson, best known for EastEnders, said she received her British Soap Award on the Empire’s stage in 2022. Kieve, who has lived in Hackney since 1997, said he first performed there in 1987, in one of its first variety shows after it reopened, and that Houdini played the theatre in 1911. Shaw and Brown both started out at the Empire, Brown through its Creative Futures programme for young people, which turns 25 in 2027.
New trustees
The theatre has also added Nicki Perrett, a marketing consultant whose clients have included the National Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe; Shakia Stewart, a trustee of Hay Festival; and Louise Zandstra, director of finance at the National Youth Theatre, to its board, which is chaired by Sir William Atkinson.
Chris Sudworth, the chief executive, said the anniversary was “a moment to think ambitiously about what this truly magical theatre can become during its next chapter”. The theatre calls its new strategy Hackney:Central.
In the mid-1980s the Empire was run by Claire and Roland Muldoon of the satirical theatre group CAST, who campaigned to save it from demolition and gave early stages to comics including Ben Elton, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, according to Chortle.
This year’s panto
Jack and the Beanstalk runs from Saturday 21 November to Thursday 31 December. Clive Rowe directs and plays Dame Trot, and Kat B, in his 21st year of Empire pantomime, plays Simple Simon Trot. Will Brenton wrote the script.
Tickets cost £10 to £48, plus £1.50 per ticket online or by phone. NHS and key workers can buy £12 tickets for the 7pm shows on Wednesday 2, Friday 4 and Friday 11 December by calling the box office. BSL-interpreted performances are on Saturday 5 December at 1.30pm and 6pm and Thursday 17 December at 1.30pm and 7pm. The 1.30pm show on 5 December is also relaxed and dementia friendly, and an audio-described performance is on Sunday 6 December at 1pm.
The essentials
- Where: Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ
- New patrons: Sir Lenny Henry, Nish Kumar, Tameka Empson, Renell Shaw, Corinna Brown, Kat B, Paul Kieve
- Panto: Jack and the Beanstalk, 21 November to 31 December, £10 to £48 plus fees
- Box office: 020 8985 2424, Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm