Hackney Empire Ltd

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.

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

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

• Live theatre performances
• Performing arts venue
• Comedy and music shows
• Venue hire services
• Community arts programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Memberships and Friends Scheme: Annual and monthly membership options that provide benefits to supporters, including priority booking, discounts, and exclusive access.
4. Donations and Fundraising: As a registered charity, Hackney Empire accepts donations and has programmes including dedicated seats, legacy giving, and general fundraising support.
5. Food and Beverage: The venue operates bars on multiple levels offering drinks and snacks to theatre-goers during performances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core 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

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The PassageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUkrainian 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 OperacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnglish 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 CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK'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 musicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance 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 ProductionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComedy promoter and production company representing comedians including Fatiha El-Ghorri and Seann Walsh, presenting their stand-up shows at Hackney Empire.
• Plosive LivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLive comedy promoter presenting Nish Kumar's 'Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy' tour at Hackney Empire, in association with PBJ Management.
• Live NationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor live entertainment company presenting Adam Rowe's 'Fashionism' stand-up show at Hackney Empire.
• Show And TellcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPromotions company presenting Simon Amstell's 'I Love It Here' tour and The Jack & Ash Show LIVE at Hackney Empire.
• Show and TellcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProduction company presenting The Jack & Ash Show LIVE podcast/performance event at Hackney Empire.
• Phil McIntyre Live LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComedy promoter presenting Susan Calman's 'Tall Tales' stand-up tour at Hackney Empire.
• Twenty One Miles, Agapè, and All Good ProductionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProduction companies jointly presenting Marine Leonardi's French comedy show 'Mauvaise Graine' at Hackney Empire.
• Zeppelin EntertainmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPromoter presenting Bhuwin's musical performance 'Noor-e-dastaan' at Hackney Empire.
• Comedy Events UKcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPromoter presenting 'Pioneers of Comedy meets Next Gen' - a celebration of Black British comedy pioneers and emerging talent at Hackney Empire.
• Elite ConcertscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConcert promoter presenting The Drifters' UK tour at Hackney Empire.
• Stokey EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean energy partnership for installation of solar panels at Hackney Empire, supporting the theatre's sustainability commitments.
• IMWPminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPromoter presenting Henning Wehn's 'Acid Wehn' comedy show at Hackney Empire.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hackneyempire
• Facebookfacebook.com/hackneyempire
• Instagraminstagram.com/hackneyempire
• TikToktiktok.com/@hackneyempire
• Xx.com/HackneyEmpire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hackney-empire-theatre

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hackney Empire Ltd