Music hall's future in the balance

The future of London's Hackney Empire hangs in the balance after the building firm refurbishing the old music hall went bust.

The 1901 venue, which has a rich history of comedy, had almost completed a £15 million project when the firm doing the work went into administration.

Today, the theatre's artistic director Roland Muldoon will ask the Arts Council to step in to ensure the refurbishment is completed.

Mr Muldoon told London's Evening Standard: "What makes it so bloody infuriating is that the work is nine-tenths finished.

" If we get the go ahead [from the Arts Council], we should be able to be finished as planned, but if they need time to review the situation it seems very unlikely."

The Empire has been closed for nearly two years, and was due to reopen in September.

It has been a music hall, TV studio, bingo hall and was recently revived by Mr Muldoon as a variety venue on the back of the alternative comedy wave and now has a heavy emphasis on promoting black talent.

Comics who have performed their have included Max Miller, Charlie Chaplin, Chico Marx, Stan Laurel and Tony Hancock.

Paul Merton said: "Every time I've played there it's been an absolute joy and has reminded me why I do what I do."

The money had been raised by an extensive campaign, headed by Griff Rhys Jones, and including £4 million of lottery funding,

William Cook's history of the Hackney Empire

Published: 11 Jul 2003