Opened at the turn of the century by renowned theatre architect Frank Matcham, the Empire was quite the latest thing, with electric lighting and everything. In the interwar years it was one of London’s biggest music halls with Charlie Chaplin regularly treading the boards.

As the East End suffered in the postwar years with the loss of shipping and industry, the Empire gradually declined and found itself a bingo hall by the mid 70's.

In the 80's new money and residents arrived and inspired actor manager Roland Muldoon to mount a campaign to restore the Empire.

Since the mid 80's this has been a remarkable theatre, totally reinvigorated and visited by all manner of productions as well as comedians on tour. It's a huge place with over 1500 seats and when a raucous Hackney crowd all laugh at the right bit, the atmosphere is electric.