成人论坛

The Hackney Empire is the latest in an extraordinary set of buildings being returned to the theatre-going public, says our critic Mark Shenton...

The last few years have seen an extraordinary renaissance in the fabric of London theatre 聳 literally so.

When critics talk about the current state of the theatre, they usually mean what聮s on our stages, not the buildings that contain them.

But now after decades of neglect, the buildings themselves are being attended to, particularly in the public sector where lottery funding has been available.

The last few years have seen splendid re-fits for the Royal Court and Almeida, and completely new premises for Hampstead and Soho Theatres.

The commercial West End, meanwhile, seeing what has been achieved, has cried wolf and claims that some 拢250million is needed to prop up its ailing venues.

significant profits

Sir Cameron Mackintosh, one of their number, has pledged 拢30million of his own money to refurbish the theatres he owns, which is as it should be since these are places of commercial business that do return significant profits to their managers.

Ticket prices at Sir Cameron Mackintosh's new Prince of Wales Theatre will include a restoration surcharge

In May, Mackintosh will duly re-open a lavishly refurbished Prince of Wales Theatre, but is going to make the public pay in part for the privilege of enjoying the work done.

Tickets there will carry a 75p 聯theatre restoration聰 surcharge, as has been common practice on Broadway for a few years now.

Meanwhile, this month (February) sees an extraordinary set of buildings being returned to the theatre-going public.

decrepit conditions

Two of them are stunning jewels in the crown of the pre-eminent Victorian and Edwardian theatre architect Frank Matcham.

The way it was...the Empire's auditorium before the 拢17 million refit

His suburban variety palace, the Hackney Empire 聳 which first opened its doors in December 1901 聳 has gone from music hall to warehouse, to television studio and bingo hall, before becoming a theatre again thanks to husband-and-wife team Roland and Claire Muldoon, and a group of actors and artists, who had acquired it in 1986 as a base for a touring company they then ran.

While they re-established the venue as a place for inventive, eclectic work, particularly in promoting new comedy, it was in famously decrepit conditions.

Now, at a cost of 拢17 million, the Empire is back, looking opulent and better than ever.

affordable theatre

Ditto the London Coliseum, another Matcham house, which re-opens on 21 February following a 拢41million refurbishment that has added some 40% more public space to what was already one of the largest theatres in the capital, and is home to English National Opera.

Among forthcoming attractions at the new Wimbledon Theatre are Blood Brothers, Grease, The Full Monty and Joan Collins in Full Circle

Also newly spruced up and under new management from 10 February is Wimbledon Theatre.

聯The size and beauty of this theatre wouldn聮t disgrace the West End,聰 says Karin Gartzke, its new chief executive, echoing a review in The Times in 1910 when the theatre originally opened.

Its return puts Wimbledon 聳 an area at the end of the District Line that is best known for the two weeks of the year when it becomes the focus of World Tennis 聳 back on the map as a year-round theatrical centre, too, offering local residents affordable theatre on their doorsteps.

useful links

listen
catch: mark shenton on london's first nights each tuesday evening at 11.30pm on 94.9 fm

more theatre
shows you shouldn't miss
first nights & more theatre reviews
theatre index

Take a Thames Tour of Rotherhithe including the home of London's whaling and timber trades

[an error occurred while processing this directive]