Hackney Empire Ltd
Hackney Empire Ltd is a registered charity operating a 124-year-old Grade II* listed theatre in East London, delivering comedy, music, theatre, opera, dance, and community youth programmes to approximately 4,000 young people and general audiences annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1901
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hackney Empire Ltd does
Hackney Empire Ltd is a registered charity (No. 1062085) and private company operating a 124-year-old Grade II* listed theatre at 291 Mare Street in Hackney, East London. The venue seats 1,268 (or stands 1,631) across four levels in a Frank Matcham-designed auditorium, and is supported by a secondary rehearsal space called Empire 2. The company programmes a diverse slate spanning comedy, live music, theatre, opera, dance, family entertainment, and an annual pantomime, sourcing content through partnerships with major UK promoters including Live Nation, Off The Kerb, Plosive Live, Phil McIntyre, and Show And Tell, alongside co-productions with companies such as English Touring Opera, Talawa Theatre Company, and ACE dance and music.
Revenue is generated through five principal streams: ticket sales (£5–£145 price range, plus £1.50 booking fee and £2 building restoration levy), venue hire of the main theatre and Empire 2, a Friends membership programme with annual and monthly tiers, donations and legacy giving (the venue operates as a charity), and on-site food and beverage sales. Direct ticketing is handled via Spektrix with online, phone, and in-person box office channels. Distribution relies on a multi-channel marketing approach including the website, email newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and BlueSky, with quarterly brochures in digital and audio formats.
Beyond performance programming, Hackney Empire runs the Creative Futures programme, engaging 4,000 young people aged 14–25 annually in free creative projects (Artist Development Programme, Young Producers, Mental Health Champions, Community Choir, schools partnerships), accumulating over 20,000 participants across 20 years. The company holds three certifications relevant to its operations: registered charity status, Grade II* listed building status, and Fundraising Regulator membership. Leadership transitioned in August 2025 with Chris Sudworth appointed CEO following the departure of Yamin Choudury as Artistic Director and Joint CEO.
Hackney Empire Ltd firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hackney Empire Ltd
- Legal name
- Hackney Empire Ltd
- Website
- https://hackneyempire.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1901
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hackney Empire Ltd is a registered charity operating a 124-year-old Grade II* listed theatre in East London, delivering comedy, music, theatre, opera, dance, and community youth programmes to approximately 4,000 young people and general audiences annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hackney Empire Ltd industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Entertainment Venue
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Venue Facilities, Maintenance & Capital Projects (Engineering, Renovations) (MPAGALAL)
Keywords
Where Hackney Empire Ltd is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hackney Empire Ltd business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets to theatre performances, comedy shows, live music, opera, dance, and family events. Ticket prices range from £5 to £145 depending on the show, with standard booking fees of £1.50 per ticket and a £2 building restoration levy.
- Venue Hire: Hackney Empire and Empire 2 are available for hire as event spaces, described as an iconic theatre for private events, corporate functions, and performances.
- Memberships and Friends Scheme: Annual and monthly membership options that provide benefits to supporters, including priority booking, discounts, and exclusive access.
- Donations and Fundraising: As a registered charity, Hackney Empire accepts donations and has programmes including dedicated seats, legacy giving, and general fundraising support.
- Food and Beverage: The venue operates bars on multiple levels offering drinks and snacks to theatre-goers during performances.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | Pay-as-you-go | Choose What You Pay tickets for Artist Development Programme |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard comedy show pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | French comedy performance |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium comedy events with concessions |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Opera performances with group discounts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium theatre/dance productions |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Charity fundraising comedy events |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Podcast and entertainment events |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Hackney Empire Ltd product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hackney Empire Ltd operates a Grade II* listed historic theatre venue at 291 Mare Street in East London, founded in 1901. It presents a year-round programme of live comedy, theatre, opera, dance, live music, podcasts/talks and family entertainment including an annual pantomime, and sells tickets directly to consumers. The venue also offers hire of its main auditorium and Empire 2 rehearsal space to third parties, operates free community and youth creative programmes (Creative Futures, Community Choir, schools programme), and runs a registered charity supported by memberships, donations, seat dedications and legacy giving.
Product overview
Hackney Empire Ltd operates a historic Grade II* listed theatre venue on Mare Street in London, with a capacity of over 1,600 for standing gigs and nearly 1,300 seats for seated performances. Founded in 1901, the theatre has evolved through multiple lives as a music hall, TV studio, bingo hall, and now a vibrant performance venue. The company offers a diverse programme spanning comedy, theatre, opera, live music, dance, podcasts/talks, and family entertainment including their famous annual pantomime. The Creative Futures Programme provides free creative projects for 4,000 young people aged 14-25 annually, including the Artist Development Programme (ADP), Young Producers, and community outreach. Additional services include venue hire, membership programmes, seat dedication, and legacy giving options. The theatre partners with touring companies, independent promoters, and charity partners to deliver its programming.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hackney Empire Theatre (Main Auditorium) Main theatre auditorium with a capacity of 1,268 seated or 1,631 standing across four levels (Stalls, Dress Circle, Upper Circle, Gallery). Hosts the venue's programme of comedy, theatre, live music, opera, dance, and family entertainment for general audiences.
- Empire 2 (Rehearsal Space Hire) Secondary rehearsal and event space available for hire as an event venue. Used for community activities, creative development, rehearsals and smaller hire events.
- Creative Futures Programme Free creative projects for 4,000 young people aged 14-25 each year, encompassing the Artist Development Programme, Young Producers, Mental Health Champions, and other community creative activities.
- Community Choir Community singing group offering opportunities for local residents to participate in choral music as part of the venue's outreach activities.
- Schools, Colleges & Work Experience Programme Educational outreach programme partnering with schools and colleges to provide creative work experience and access to live theatre (including a £15 schools ticket rate).
- Venue Hire (Hackney Empire and Empire 2) Hire of the main theatre and Empire 2 rehearsal space for external events, corporate functions, private performances and third-party productions.
- Friend of Hackney Empire (Membership) Monthly and annual membership programme offering priority booking, ticket discounts, and exclusive access to events for supporters.
- Seat Dedication Donation programme allowing supporters to dedicate a seat in the auditorium with their name or in memory of someone, with recognition displayed in the theatre.
- Legacy Giving Charitable giving programme allowing supporters to leave a bequest in their will to support the theatre's future operations.
- Food and Beverage (Theatre Bars) On-site bars on multiple levels of the venue offering drinks and snacks to theatre-goers during performances.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4,000 young people participate in free Creative Futures projects annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Hackney Empire Ltd
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Hackney Empire Ltd technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Hackney Empire Ltd partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- The PassageminorThe Passage, a charity working to end homelessness in London, partnered with Hackney Empire to host the 'Laughter to the Rafters' comedy fundraising event. The event raises vital funds to support The Passage's work with people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness across London.
- Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre (Ukraine)coreUkrainian theatre company presenting 'The Witch of Konotop' at Hackney Empire. The production adapts Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko's satirical comedy, blending folklore with contemporary themes. Directed by Ivan Uryvskyi with design by Tetiana Ovsiichuk and choreography by Olha Semioshkina.
- English Touring OperacoreEnglish Touring Opera presented a double bill including Gluck's 'Orpheus and Eurydice' and Elena Langer's 'Ariadne' alongside Purcell's 'Dido & Aeneas' at Hackney Empire.
- Talawa Theatre CompanycoreUK's leading Black British theatre company celebrating 40 years with a showcase at Hackney Empire. The partnership marks a collaboration between two historic theatre organisations, with Talawa highlighting four decades of cultural impact including works from 'The Black Jacobins' (1986) to 'Play On!' (2025).
- ACE dance and musicminorDance company presenting 'TWAWSI: The World As We See It', a double bill featuring 'ECHOES OF DUST' choreographed by Serge Aimé Coulibaly and 'LETLALO' by Vincent Mantsoe, redefining dance from the African Diaspora.
- Off The Kerb ProductionscoreComedy promoter and production company representing comedians including Fatiha El-Ghorri and Seann Walsh, presenting their stand-up shows at Hackney Empire.
- Plosive LivecoreLive comedy promoter presenting Nish Kumar's 'Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy' tour at Hackney Empire, in association with PBJ Management.
- Live NationcoreMajor live entertainment company presenting Adam Rowe's 'Fashionism' stand-up show at Hackney Empire.
- Show And TellcorePromotions company presenting Simon Amstell's 'I Love It Here' tour and The Jack & Ash Show LIVE at Hackney Empire.
- Show and TellcoreProduction company presenting The Jack & Ash Show LIVE podcast/performance event at Hackney Empire.
- Phil McIntyre Live LtdcoreComedy promoter presenting Susan Calman's 'Tall Tales' stand-up tour at Hackney Empire.
- Twenty One Miles, Agapè, and All Good ProductionminorProduction companies jointly presenting Marine Leonardi's French comedy show 'Mauvaise Graine' at Hackney Empire.
- Zeppelin EntertainmentminorPromoter presenting Bhuwin's musical performance 'Noor-e-dastaan' at Hackney Empire.
- Comedy Events UKcorePromoter presenting 'Pioneers of Comedy meets Next Gen' - a celebration of Black British comedy pioneers and emerging talent at Hackney Empire.
- Elite ConcertscoreConcert promoter presenting The Drifters' UK tour at Hackney Empire.
- Stokey EnergyminorClean energy partnership for installation of solar panels at Hackney Empire, supporting the theatre's sustainability commitments.
- IMWPminorPromoter presenting Henning Wehn's 'Acid Wehn' comedy show at Hackney Empire.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hackney Empire Ltd competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Donmar Warehouse: London theatre producing drama, musicals and comedy at intimate capacity; directly comparable as a London-based charity venue programming across multiple genres with a strong artistic identity.
- Almeida Theatre: Off-West End London theatre presenting drama, comedy and contemporary work; comparable as a heritage-calibre London venue with strong artistic reputation, charitable status and capacity below the West End scale.
- The Old Vic: Historic London theatre presenting drama, comedy and family programming; highly comparable as a heritage venue (founded 1818) operating with charitable/community purpose and similar mainstream and contemporary theatrical output.
- Lyric Hammersmith: West London producing theatre hosting drama, comedy and music with an extensive young-people's participation programme; comparable as a London charitable theatre combining ticketed programming with a large community engagement strand.
- Wilton's Music Hall: Restored Grade II listed Victorian music hall in East London; closely comparable as a heritage performance venue that underwent major restoration, presents comedy/music/theatre and operates with charitable/community purpose.
- Young Vic: London producing theatre with a social-impact mission and participation programmes (YP/Young Vic), offering theatre, dance and music; comparable in charitable structure, mixed-genre programming, and emphasis on community engagement and emerging talent.
- Sadler's Wells: Iconic London performing arts venue hosting dance, theatre and comedy across multiple performance spaces; directly comparable as a mid-to-large capacity venue running a similar mixed-genre programming model with charitable status and a strong community/young-people engagement strand.
- Soho Theatre: Central London venue with comedy, theatre and cabaret programming alongside a writer-development programme; comparable as a London performing arts venue with charitable structure and multi-genre, emerging-talent focus.
Broad incumbents
- National Theatre: UK's flagship publicly-funded producing theatre across three auditoriums; broader incumbent running a much larger scale, but comparable as a London performance venue with charitable status, multi-genre programme and significant education/outreach activities.
- Richmond Theatre (ATG): Heritage Edwardian London theatre presenting touring comedy, drama, music and pantomime under the Ambassador Theatre Group; comparable as a large-capacity listed theatre venue presenting mainstream and family entertainment programming.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hackney Empire Ltd social profiles
Digital presenceHackney Empire Ltd compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Hackney Empire Ltd financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hackney Empire Ltd leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Hackney Empire Ltd funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hackney Empire Ltd M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hackney Empire Ltd
What does Hackney Empire Ltd do?
Hackney Empire Ltd operates a Grade II* listed historic theatre venue at 291 Mare Street in East London, founded in 1901. It presents a year-round programme of live comedy, theatre, opera, dance, live music, podcasts/talks and family entertainment including an annual pantomime, and sells tickets directly to consumers. The venue also offers hire of its main auditorium and Empire 2 rehearsal space to third parties, operates free community and youth creative programmes (Creative Futures, Community Choir, schools programme), and runs a registered charity supported by memberships, donations, seat dedications and legacy giving.
Is Hackney Empire Ltd a public or private company?
Hackney Empire Ltd is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hackney Empire Ltd founded?
Hackney Empire Ltd was founded in 1901. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hackney Empire Ltd based?
Hackney Empire Ltd is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Hackney Empire Ltd make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are venue Hire, memberships and Friends Scheme, donations and Fundraising and food and Beverage.
Who are Hackney Empire Ltd's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Donmar Warehouse, Almeida Theatre, The Old Vic, Lyric Hammersmith, Wilton's Music Hall, Young Vic, Sadler's Wells and Soho Theatre. Broad incumbents are National Theatre and Richmond Theatre (ATG).
Does Hackney Empire Ltd have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hackney Empire Ltd.
What industry is Hackney Empire Ltd in?
Hackney Empire Ltd's product category is Live Entertainment Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGALAB, Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses), with a secondary code of THAHAAAG, Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums). Its NAICS code is 71111 and its SIC code is 7900.