What's On at Hackney Empire: Jan - Apr 2023

WHAT’S ON

LIVE AT THE EMPIRE WITH PHIL WANG

Fri 13 Jan, 8pm | £26 - £22.50

London’s biggest comedy night returns with a mega line-up for January, headlined by one of the fastest rising stars in comedy right now: Phil Wang, joined by Flo and Joan, Suzi Ruffell, Kemah Bob and Kane Brown

Age guidance: 16+

SAUSAGE, EGG, JOSH PUGH, CHIPS AND BEANS

Sat 21 Jan, 8pm | £19

Josh Pugh takes us through the past two years of his life, trying to have a baby and accidently losing Captain Tom’s birthday cards in his own unique and hilarious style. As seen on Hypothetical, Mock the Week, MOTDX, Unforgivable, Live at the Moth, Late Night Mash and was nominated for Best Show at Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards. HHHH Guardian

Age guidance: 16+

THE UK AMERICANA AWARDS 2023

Thu 26 Jan, 7.45pm | £30 - £28

From blues to bluegrass; gospel to folk; alt. country to Southern rock, join the UK Americana Music Association for the year’s biggest celebration of American Roots music in the UK.

Presented by Radio presenter, DJ and Americana Music fan Baylen Leonard and with special guest host ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris.

Age guidance: 16+, unless accompanied by an adult

AN

WITH PHIL ROSENTHAL

Creator, writer and producer of Everybody Loves Raymond, and Netflix food and travel lover Phil Rosenthal is bringing his live tour to London. He’ll be talking about his travels, the food along the way and his new instant New York Times Bestseller, Somebody Feed Phil The Book, with a special guest at each show.

An openly glamorous, decidedly horny musical exploration of what it means to enter your thirties as a woman. Catherine Cohen has won universal praise for her work on stage, screen and beyond. Winner of Best Newcomer at Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2019 and co-host of the smash-hit podcast Seek Treatment HHHH Evening Standard, Guardian, Telegraph

Written and directed by one of Jamaica most prolific roots playwrights Everton Dawkins, famous for works such as Passa Passa

BOROUGHS

UNITED 2023

Sun 12 Feb, 5pm | £7

Young London’s liveliest talent showcase and peace campaign is guaranteed to bring excitement to your half-term holiday.

Bringing together over 1,000 young people, families and friends, from across the capital, to enjoy young London’s top urban variety show. Presented by The Crib. Age guidance: 16+, unless accompanied by an adult

ALTER EGO 2023

Fri 17 Feb, 7.30pm | £4 (in advance), £6 (on the door)

East London’s biggest talent showcase is back. Come and see the best 14-18 year old singers, rappers, poets, and dancers perform alongside headline acts.

Past headliners including Krept and Konan, Ms Banks, Darkoo, Ambush, Ghetts, JY MNTL and more!

£5 per month you’ll receive a range of benefits that will take you right to the heart of our legendary venue. Join us today! hackneyempire.co.uk/friends

ENGLISH TOURING OPERA

GIULIO CESARE

Sat 25 Feb, 7.30pm | £37 - £10

A story of passion and revenge, featuring a treasure trove of great arias with immense dramatic intensity, Handel’s opera follows the events surrounding Julius Caesar’s conquest of Egypt, as well as his uneasy alliance and romance with fabled Egyptian queen, Cleopatra.

LUCREZIA BORGIA

Fri 3 Mar, 7.30pm | £37 - £10 Lucrezia is one of Donizetti’s greatest roles – known as one of history’s most famous poisoners. She is a complex woman in a dangerous situation, in this classic tale of family, love and revenge. Eloise Lally’s new production is conducted by ETO Music Director Gerry Cornelius

IL VIAGGIO

A REIMS

Sat 4 Mar, 7.30pm | £37 - £10

In a provincial hotel, guests from all over Europe are stranded on their way to a great coronation. Intrigue, politics, romance and lost luggage all play their part in Rossini’s chaotic comedy of manners, in a new production from Valentina Ceschi

LEVELLERS: ACOUSTIC TOUR

Thu 9 Mar 7.30pm | £39.50 - £35

Five years after they set out on their hugely acclaimed 2018 Acoustic Tour, and released its companion album We The Collective, the Levellers embark on a brand-new acoustic tour, supported by Wilswood Buoys.

JAYDE ADAMS: MEN, I CAN SAVE YOU

Sat 11 Mar, 7.30pm | £17

Change is always hard and what better person to lead the men, selflessly by the hand into the new world than TV’s Jayde Adams Multi award winning comedian, actress and recent star of Strictly Come Dancing, Jayde Adams’ critically-acclaimed special was released on Amazon Prime and has amassed over 156 million views.

Age guidance: 16+

TOUCH OF CLASS: MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

Sat 18 Mar, 7.30pm | £35 - £16.50

Touch of Class are back with their yearly Mother’s Day Special, bringing together the best in musical talent with the UK’s finest comedians to give you a non-stop night of entertainment. Comedians on the night include Slim, Felicity Ethnic and many more to be announced!

Age guidance: 14+

LIVE AT THE EMPIRE WITH ED GAMBLE

Fri 24 Mar, 8pm | £26 - £22.50

March’s mega show is headlined by stand-up star and Off Menu podcast hero Ed Gamble

He’s joined by the superstar Aisling Bea, Taskmaster’s Jamali Maddix and Lou Sanders, with rising star Thanyia Moore as your host.

Age guidance: 16+

Sat 1 Apr, 7.30pm | £30 - £20

Celebrating 40 years, this event will see this ‘National Treasure’ of a choir light up the stage in their known fashion with powerful vocals, exciting musical arrangements and a high energy performance, showcasing their most popular songs and new collaborations like we’ve never seen or heard them before.

ANDY AND THE ODD SOCKS

Sat 15 Apr, 12pm | £25 - £17.50

It seems like only yesterday that the idea for the band came to Andy Day in a dream, but in the short time since, they’ve played Glastonbury and gone way beyond Andy’s wildest dreams. Which are pretty wild dreams.

Andy and the Odd Socks are not about cliched rock’n’roll, this is true sock’n’roll –fantastic catchy songs and a true celebration of individuality.

FERN BRADY: AUTISTIC BIKINI QUEEN

Fri 26 May, 7.30pm | £20 - £15

One of the UK’s most exciting comedians, who has just proved to be one of Taskmaster’s most popular contestants, is adding extra tour dates of her fifth solo show. This comes hot off the heels of her previous sell-out show Power & Chaos which was filmed as a special and broadcast on BBC One.

Age guidance: 16+

AN EVENING AND A LITTLE BIT OF A MORNING WITH MARK STEEL

Thu 8 Jun, 8pm | £23.50

Award-winning comedian and writer Mark Steel is back with his latest stand-up show. He’s going to try to keep it to a decent length, but it could so easily end up as an evening and part of the next day. Mark is a regular on Have I Got News For You, QI and News Quiz and is author of the award-winning audiobook Who Do I Think I Am

Age guidance: 14+ Free

Every Tuesday, 6pm - 8pm See website for details

A free training opportunity to create and organise your own events such as Pure Vibez and Alter Ego. These free workshops will help you develop the creative and practical skills needed to put on the event that you want to see.

ALTER EGO AUDITIONS

Sat 21 Jan, 10am - 6pm See website for details

East London’s biggest talent showcase is back. We’re looking for 14-18 year old singers, rappers, poets, and dancers to perform alongside headline acts. For your chance to perform in front of over one thousand people – book your audition now! Create your future @HEfutures

Book tickets at: hackneyempire.co.uk Our phone lines are open: Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm (except Bank Holidays) 020 8985 2424

Our Box Office window is open for in person bookings: Mon - Sat 10am - 6pm (except Bank Holidays)

Booking fees: £1.15 per ticket online, £1.35 per ticket over the phone. No booking fees if booked in person. 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ

Hackney Central (just over 200m), Hackney Downs and London Fields (700m) all have frequent and direct links to the tube network. 30, 38, 55, 106, 253, 254, 276, 394, D6, W15.

Front cover: Mark Senior.

Hackney Empire is a registered charity in England and Wales No. 1062085. All details were correct when we sent this to print. For the latest information including any changes or updates, please check our website.

WHAT’S ON

Fri 13 Jan, 8pm LIVE AT THE EMPIRE WITH PHIL WANG

Sat 21 Jan, 8pm SAUSAGE, EGG, JOSH PUGH, CHIPS AND BEANS

Thu 26 Jan, 7.45pm THE UK AMERICANA AWARDS 2023

Fri 27 & Sat 28 Jan, 8pm AN EVENING WITH PHIL ROSENTHAL

Fri 3 Feb, 9.45pm CATHERINE COHEN: COME FOR ME

Sat 4 Feb, 7.30pm MAN FI GET BUN

Sun 12 Feb, 5pm BOROUGHS UNITED 2023

Fri 17 Feb, 7.30pm ALTER EGO 2023

Sat 25 Feb, 7.30pm ENGLISH TOURING OPERA: GIULIO CESARE

Fri 3 Mar, 7.30pm ENGLISH TOURING OPERA: LUCREZIA BORGIA

Sat 4 Mar, 7.30pm ENGLISH TOURING OPERA: IL VIAGGIO A REIMS

Thu 9 Mar, 7.30pm LEVELLERS: ACOUSTIC TOUR

Sat 11 Mar, 7.30pm JAYDE ADAMS: MEN, I CAN SAVE YOU

Sat 18 Mar, 7.30pm TOUCH OF CLASS: MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

Fri 24 Mar, 8pm LIVE AT THE EMPIRE WITH ED GAMBLE

Sat 1 Apr, 7.30pm LCGC: MAKE THIS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

Sat 15 Apr, 12pm ANDY AND THE ODD SOCKS