For over 120 years, Hackney Empire has been a home for the people of Hackney, East London and beyond to come and share experiences together in our theatre. Every year we welcome up to 200,000 people through our doors to enjoy everything art & culture has to offer: from opera to comedy, theatre to live music, and not to forget our legendary pantomime and so much more. From starting life as a music hall in 1901 with Charlie Chaplin, Houdini, Julie Andrews and Louis Armstrong on the books, through years as a TV Studio and a Bingo Hall, to our now iconic theatre that has played host to the likes of The Rolling Stones, Florence & the Machine, Ralph Fiennes, Dave Chapelle, the British Soap Awards and thousands more! Each year, we also offer 4,000 local 14 – 25 year olds the chance to get involved via our Creative Futures programme, providing free projects that build their confidence and help them make new, positive connections.