WHAT’S ON FEB - APR 2022
CELEBRATING 120 YEARS OF UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES...
WELCOME On 9 Dec 2021, we kicked off our 120th birthday, with an even more special performance of Jack and the Beanstalk, and enough birthday cake to feed the entire auditorium! That night was just the beginning of a year celebrating the unforgettable experiences we’ve created with you and for you, for over a century. There is so much more to come, and the next twelve months are packed full of some of the best comedy, music, drama, opera, pantomime and more, with some special surprises still to be announced in the near future… Stay tuned! As always none of this is possible without you, so if you have any special memories of your time here at Hackney Empire, then we’d love for you to share them with us via our social channels, by email, or in person when you visit. 120 years of creating art by all and for all; 120 years of amplifying the unheard and overlooked; 120 years of joy, love and exhilaration. 120 years of togetherness – thank you for your endless support. Here’s to the next 120. Yamin Choudury Artistic Director
Jo Hemmant Executive Director
FEB
RIOT ACT Tue 1 - Mon 28 Feb, Online | £15
Alexis Gregory‘s critically acclaimed production returns in 2022 to celebrate LGBT History month, as a beautiful digital ‘reimagining’; an online theatre piece, blending the worlds of theatre, screen and storytelling. The production is formed word-for-word from conversations with three key players in the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement: Michael-Anthony Nozzi, a survivor of the Stonewall riots; Lavinia Co-op, an alternative ’70’s drag artist and Paul Burston, a ’90’s Aids Activist. Gregory’s verbatim solo show is a breathtaking, hard-hitting, yet hilarious wild whiteknuckle ride through six decades of queer history, directed by Stonewall (1995) writer Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE. Filmed at Hackney Empire and available to watch via stream.theatre.
ED GAMBLE: ELECTRIC Thu 10 - Sat 12 Feb, 7.30pm | £20 After a sell-out tour of his house in 2020 (extended into 2021 due to popular demand), Ol’ Broken Pancreas is charged up and ready to flick the switch on another night of attention seeking. Co-host of the award-winning mega-hit podcast Off Menu with James Acaster, Taskmaster champion, and has his own special Blood Sugar available worldwide on Amazon Prime. “An ability to open his mouth and spontaneously say something hysterically funny” James Kettle, The Guardian Age Guidance 14+
BECOME A FRIEND As a registered charity Hackney Empire depends on the support of the people who love it. From £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
FEB/MAR present
LA BOHÈME Sat 26 Feb & Fri 4 Mar, 7.30pm | £37 - £10 A poetic production of the most popular of operas. Puccini’s La bohème is a story of young love, starting on Christmas Eve in a Parisian garret. On this festive, snowy night the lovers draw close, but poverty forces them apart in a story told with the most memorable music, from ‘Che gelida manina’ to the shattering brass chords announcing its tragic resolution. ETO’s much-praised production, in period dress and inventive designs, sung in Italian, promises to break every heart and breathe joy into the spirit of everyone who has ever wanted love.
THE GOLDEN COCKEREL Sat 5 Mar, 7.30pm | £37 - £10 A lively new production of a comic Russian fantasy by Rimsky-Korsakov. A daring satire on the last days of the Romanov empire, and in particular the debacle of the Russo-Japanese War, it is as explosive as it is charming. Led by new ETO Music Director Gerry Cornelius and ETO Director James Conway, with Grant Doyle (most recently ETO’s Macbeth) in the role of the sleepy Emperor Dodon, this should be an evening of fantasy, mischief, and enough musical MULTIBUY delight to ice a lemon cake!
OFFER!
20% OFF IF YO U BOOK FOR B OTH SHOWS
CATE LE BON Tue 15 Mar, 7.30pm | £23.50 The past few years have seen Le Bon emerge as a much lauded and sought-after collaborator, producing albums for contemporaries such as Deerhunter (Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared?), John Grant (Boy from Michigan), and forthcoming albums from both Devendra Banhart and H. Hawkline. A multi-faceted artist and producer who can both steer the ship and tap into a collective mindset; in 2019, she joined John Cale for a three-night live stretch in Paris, and 2021 will see a bass appearance on the track “If I Don’t Hear from You Tonight” from Courtney Barnett’s Things Take Time, Take Time. Age guidance: 18+
HENNING WEHN: IT’LL ALL COME OUT IN THE WASH Fri 18 Mar, 7.30pm | £24.50 - £15 Watch German Comedy Ambassador Henning Wehn give everything a good rinse and witness him wring sense out of the nonsensical. An unbiased look at a certain virus might be inevitable but Henning has no agenda; he just happens to be always spot on. It’s a curse. “A master at using his outsider status. Dazzlingly funny” The Times Age guidance: 16+
AL MURRAY’S GIG FOR VICTORY Fri 25 Mar, 7.30pm | £28.50 As the dust settles and we emerge blinking into the dawn of a new year, the men and women of this great country will need answers. And when that moment comes, who better to show the way, to provide those answers, than the people’s man of the people, the Pub Landlord? Steeped in the deep and ancient barroom wisdom of countless lock ins, the Pub Landlord is there to show the way. Wherever you are, he will – within sensible travel limits and theatre booking policy – come, offering people thirsty for common sense a full pint of the good stuff. ‘Stand up Gold’ The Guardian Age guidance: 14+
MAR
MAR/APR
TOUCH OF CLASS: A MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL Sat 26 Mar, 7.30pm | £35 - £22.50
Touch Of Class returns with the yearly Mother’s Day special of the UK’s No1 Comedy and Music showcase, the show that gave you Freddie McGregor live at Hackney Empire. On this night we celebrate the Mothers of the planet, our Sisters, Grandmothers, Aunts, Daughters and Mothers. Featuring Richard Blackwood, Geoff Schumann, Glenda Jaxson, Kayleigh Loudmouth, Quincy and an exclusive performance from Bob Marley Tribute Band, Xodus.
Scottish Opera with D’Oyly Carte Opera & State Opera South Australia present
THE GONDOLIERS Wed 30 Mar - Sat 2 Apr, 2.30pm & 7.30pm | £44 - £10 Two happy-go-lucky gondoliers discover that one of them is, in fact, heir to the throne of a distant kingdom. True to their (adopted) Republican roots, they set off together to rule in idealistic, if somewhat chaotic, style… The score sees Sullivan at the top of his game and is packed with favourites including the ‘Regular Royal Queen’ quartet, while the fabulous cast includes G&S favourite Richard Suart (The Mikado 2016).
UTOPIA, LIMITED Fri 1 Apr, 7.30pm | £29 - £10 Full of sparkling wit, Utopia, Limited is packed with show-stopping patter, brilliant choruses and music that is, at times, of almost Verdian beauty. A semi-staged concert and a Scottish Opera premiere, performed by the cast of The Gondoliers.
ANDY AND THE ODD SOCKS Tue 12 Apr, 1pm | £15 What a rollercoaster ride it’s been for Andy and the Odd Socks. 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. 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.
THE GRUFFALO
APR
Wed 6 - Fri 8 Apr, 10.30am, 1.30pm & 4.30pm | £16 - £12 A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood… Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Expect songs, laughs and monstrous fun for children aged 3+ and their grown-ups!
NISH KUMAR: YOUR POWER, YOUR CONTROL Fri 22 & Sat 23 Apr, 8pm | £22.50 A new show from the host of The Mash Report and one of the Guardian’s Top Fifty Comedians of the 21st Century. As seen on Live at the Apollo, Taskmaster, Netflix’s Comedians of the World, QI, Conan and The News. “Kumar is the smartest, and often the silliest, political comic we’ve got: acute, furious and often the ridiculous fall guy of his own jokes” James Kettle, The Guardian Age Guidance 18+
PAUL CHOWDHRY: FAMILYFRIENDLY COMEDIAN Sat 30 Apr & Sun 1 May, 8pm | £35 - £25 Following a complete sell-out 2021 tour, star of global smash hit Live Innit, Taskmaster & the first British-Asian stand-up to sell-out London’s Wembley Arena adds extra 2022 dates! After barely surviving the pandemic, and with two years of pent-up killer material, Paul tackles the UK’s handling of the pandemic, why the rule of six only worked for white people, fame, England football fans and Tom Cruise landing his helicopter in someone’s garden.
COMING SOON A co-production by Music Theatre Wales and Britten Pears Arts, staged in association with the London Sinfonietta. London performance co-produced and presented by The Royal Opera in association with Hackney Empire.
VIOLET Thu 23 Jun 2022, 7.30pm | £40 - £10 In a muddied nightdress, in a country kitchen, Violet finally smiles. Combining the acclaimed talents of writer Alice Birch (TV includes Normal People (BBC), Succession (HBO); film Lady Macbeth; Mothering Sunday; stage Anatomy of a Suicide) and rising star composer Tom Coult (commissioned by First Night of the Proms; currently resident composer at the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra), this is opera for now and about now.
CREATIVE FUTURES Free events and projects for young people aged 14-25.
YOUNG PRODUCERS Every Tuesday, 6pm - 8pm See website for details A unique opportunity to create and organise your own events such as Pure Vibez and Alter Ego. The free workshops will help you develop the creative and practical skills to put on the event that you want to see.
CREATORS COLLIDE Half Term, 14 - 18 Feb A week of workshops, events and panels put on by our Young Producers focused on opportunities around creative careers. From writing workshops with gal-dem, to panel discussions with music artist managers, this is a week with something for everyone!
PROGRESSION SESSIONS Every Tuesday, 5.30pm - 7.30pm at Bsix College 22 Feb - 29 Mar Want to produce and record your own music? Progression Sessions is a song writing and recording project for Artists, Producers, Musicians and DJs. Create your future @HEfutures
INFORMATION BOX OFFICE 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) 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ @HackneyEmpire
Graham Road Lane Morning Wilton Way
Town Hall Reading Lane
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Chatham Place
Hackney Central (just over 200m), Hackney Downs and London Fields (700m) all have frequent and direct links to the tube network.
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THERE’S A BAR ON EVERY LEVEL We have a bar on every floor of the theatre, serving a range of drinks and snacks, Come and visit us!
Cover image by Sharron Wallace, inside cover by 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.
EMPIRE LOCAL HACKNEY EMPIRE COMMUNITY CHOIR Every Thu 7pm - 9pm Check website for current term dates | £5 | £3 concs Well known for its infectious energy and joyous sound, everyone is welcome at Hackney Empire Community Choir! Led by Joseph Roberts in rehearsals.
WHAT’S ON FEB - APR 2022 Tue 1 - Mon 28 Feb, Online Fri 4 Feb, 7.30pm Thu 10 - Sat 12 Feb, 7.30pm
RIOT ACT CHRIS RAMSEY: THE 20/20 TOUR ED GAMBLE: ELECTRIC
Sun 13 Feb, 5pm
BOROUGHS UNITED 2022
Sat 26 & Fri 4 Mar, 7.30pm
ENGLISH TOURING OPERA: LA BOHÈME
Sat 5 Mar, 7.30pm
ENGLISH TOURING OPERA: THE GOLDEN COCKEREL
Tue 15 Mar, 7.30pm Fri 18 Mar, 7.30pm
CATE LE BON HENNING WEHN: IT’LL ALL COME OUT IN THE WASH
Sat 19 Mar, 7.30pm
ANNA FIORENTINI THEATRE SCHOOL
Fri 25 Mar, 7.30pm
AL MURRAY’S GIG FOR VICTORY
Sat 26 Mar, 7.30pm
TOUCH OF CLASS: MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL
Wed 30 Mar - Sat 2 Apr, SCOTTISH OPERA WITH 2.30pm & 7.30pm D’OYLY CARTE OPERA & STATE OPERA SOUTH AUSTRALIA: THE GONDOLIERS Fri 1 Apr, 7.30pm SCOTTISH OPERA WITH D’OYLY CARTE OPERA & STATE OPERA SOUTH AUSTRALIA: UTOPIA, LIMITED Wed 6 - Fri 8 Apr, 10.30am, 1.30pm & 4.30pm Tue 12 Apr, 1pm
THE GRUFFALO ANDY AND THE ODD SOCKS
Fri 22 & Sat 23 Apr, 8pm
NISH KUMAR: YOUR POWER, YOUR CONTROL
Sat 30 Apr & Sun 1 May, 8pm
PAUL CHOWDHRY: FAMILY-FRIENDLY COMEDIAN
KEY COMEDY
COMMUNITY
DRAMA
FAMILY
MUSIC
OPERA
WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO HEAR ABOUT OUR CHRISTMAS PANTO 2022? We’ll be announcing details very soon, so make sure to join our mailing list at:
hackneyempire.co.uk
@HackneyEmpire
020 8985 2424