Hackney Empire Marks 125 Years With Multi-Arts Programme: East London 2026

Key Points

• Anniversary Celebrations: Hackney Empire has launched a 16-month anniversary season to celebrate its 125th year, having first opened its doors in 1901.
• Exhibition Launch: A major new exhibition, Hackney Empire: 125 Iconic Years, will explore the venue’s rich cultural history from its music hall roots to its modern community programming.
• Artistic Line-up: The programme features Talawa’s 40th Anniversary Gala, Empire Nights hosted by guest comedy performers, Ballet Black’s return with Unbound, and the brand-new opera Yasuke by Ivor Novello Award-winner Renell Shaw.
• Seasonal Traditions: Olivier Award-winner Clive Rowe returns to direct and star as Dame Trot in Jack and the Beanstalk, alongside Kat B in his 21st pantomime performance at the venue.
• Future Capital Development: The theatre has secured grant funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to plan structural upgrades, develop community engagement, and preserve its architectural heritage.
• Youth Empowerment: The venue’s Creative Futures initiative continues to provide free professional arts development for young people aged 14 to 25.

East London (East London Times) September 18, 2026 – Hackney Empire has officially launched a 16-month anniversary season to mark 125 years since its inception, combining historical retrospectives with a broad line-up of theatre, comedy, dance, and music. The landmark milestone for the iconic East London venue, which welcomed its first audiences in 1901, will incorporate new creative partnerships, artist commissions, and strategic heritage planning supported by major funding bodies.

What Is Included in the Hackney Empire 125th Anniversary Programme?

The 16-month celebration features a high-profile multi-genre schedule intended to honor the historic building’s legacy while expanding its contemporary outreach. As detailed in official announcements, a central feature of the season is the archival exhibition Hackney Empire: 125 Iconic Years, which charts the physical and artistic evolution of the venue across more than twelve decades.

The stage line-up opens on October 8 with physical theatre company Theatre Re presenting the 10th anniversary tour of their award-winning production The Nature of Forgetting. This is followed on October 13 by Talawa Theatre Company’s 40th Anniversary Gala, celebrating four decades of Black British theatre excellence. Comedy curated under the new Empire Nights banner will headline on October 22, featuring act Kurupt FM, alongside historic returns from alternative comedy icons.

As reported by theatre arts journalists covering London’s cultural sector, Chief Executive Officer Chris Sudworth stated:

“Hackney Empire’s 125th anniversary is an extraordinary opportunity to celebrate everything this theatre has meant to artists, audiences and communities over the past 125 years but just as importantly, to engage with what it can mean for current and future generations. The first ten months of our 16-month anniversary programme builds on that: bringing together relevant and high-quality theatre, dance, comedy and music; developing new partnerships and productions; supporting the ambitions of artists and young people; continuing to make sure Hackney Empire is a place where our communities feel they belong, are seen and celebrated.”

What New Productions and Returning Shows Have Been Announced?

The upcoming programming features both brand-new commissions and established returning favorites. Among the newly commissioned works is Yasuke, an original opera composed by Ivor Novello Award-winner Renell Shaw, who originally progressed through the theatre’s flagship youth development pathway.

Dance programming features the return of Ballet Black presenting Unbound, a triple bill highlighting Olivier Award-winning dancer Isabela Coracy in Nina: By Whatever Means. Later in the season, the venue’s flagship festive production, Jack and the Beanstalk, will run from November 21 to December 31. The pantomime will be directed by and star Olivier Award-winner Clive Rowe as Dame Trot, appearing alongside veteran performer Kat B, who marks his 21st pantomime appearance on the Hackney Empire stage as Simple Simon Trot.

Additional scheduled co-productions and visiting runs include works from English Touring Opera, new dance-theatre pieces, and the world premiere of Nanny of the Maroons planned for 2027 in partnership with the Belgrade Theatre and tiata fahodzi.

How Is Hackney Empire Investing in Youth and Heritage Facilities?

Alongside main stage productions, the venue is expanding its developmental and structural initiatives. The venue’s Creative Futures initiative, which reaches its own 25th anniversary in 2027, continues to deliver free access programs, skills development, and entry pathways into creative industries for young individuals aged 14 to 25.

To ensure long-term sustainability, Hackney Empire has secured development support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This funding will facilitate research, audience consultation, and essential preliminary planning for structural building upgrades to protect the Grade II* listed architecture while improving facility access. The season will also incorporate a marked increase in accessible performances, including British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation, audio description, relaxed performances, and captioning.

Background of the Hackney Empire Development

Designed by renowned theatre architect Frank Matcham, the Hackney Empire first opened as a music hall in December 1901. Over its 125-year history, the venue has survived major societal shifts, changing cultural tastes, and physical threats of demolition.

During the early-to-mid 20th century, the venue hosted iconic variety performers, including Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, and Stan Laurel. However, as music hall audiences declined with the rise of television, the building was sold and converted into a bingo hall operated by Mecca Leisure in the 1950s, a role it served for nearly three decades.

In 1986, facing potential demolition, the building was saved through community campaigning and re-opened as a permanent performance venue. It subsequently played a central role in the 1980s alternative comedy boom, helping launch the careers of major British comic talents. A full structural restoration was completed in 2004, preserving its Matcham-designed interior while modernising stage facilities. The launch of the 125th-anniversary program under current leadership represents the latest phase in transitioning the venue from a historic local hall into a self-producing cultural hub.

Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Audiences, Local Communities, and the Arts Sector

The roll-out of Hackney Empire’s 125th-anniversary season and its accompanying capital development plans will have distinct impacts on multiple key groups:

• Local Community and Young People: The continued provision of free access via the Creative Futures programme guarantees that local youth in East London—often facing financial barriers to entry in the creative sector—will gain direct access to industry mentorship and practical training. Enhanced accessibility features (BSL, captioning, relaxed shows) will further widen theatre access for neurodivergent and disabled patrons within the borough.
• Emerging Artists and Creative Professionals: The commissioning of new works like Renell Shaw’s Yasuke demonstrates a direct pipeline from youth programs to main stage professional commissions. The newly introduced industry bootcamps and residency schemes will offer crucial development space for early-career directors, producers, and writers.
• The Wider UK Arts Sector: By securing National Lottery Heritage funding to plan capital investments, Hackney Empire positions itself as a resilient, community-anchored model for regional independent theatres across the UK. The emphasis on diverse programming and co-productions ensures the venue retains its role as a key contributor to London’s broader cultural landscape amidst wider financial pressures within the arts ecosystem.