Hackney Empire

Oh yes he is! Clive Rowe is back for the whimsical tale of Jack and the Beanstalk for our pantomime this year! Climb right back into a world of magic and mischief🌱

⭐ Directed by and starring Olivier Award-winner Clive Rowe

🎟 Tickets from £10, public booking opens on Fri 30 Jan 10am

It’s been almost a month since the cast of Cinderella took their final bows, but we’re also giving a huge round of applause to..

⭐️Over 45,000 audience members
⭐️Over 10,000 school children
⭐️1000 NHS staff and key workers

Thank you for making our panto even more magical every year ✨

East London’s biggest talent showcase Alter Ego is BACK!

Hosted by Steph, with special guest performances from Skarz, Boy Blue, and Alter Ego 2025 winner Jaye. Experience the best of London’s talent and YOU choose the ALTER EGO 2026 winner.

Fri 13 Feb, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/alter-ego-2026

Hosted by 1Xtra’s very own Eddie Kadi, expect an unforgettable show of good vibes and entertainment with this stellar line up.

www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/1xtra...

Get ready for BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Comedy Gala full of laughter and celebration of household names and new voices on the black comedy circuit!

We're throwing it back to when Beverly and Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland graced our stage back in October

The duo are multi-disciplinary artists who have collaborated since they met as friends in '92 and married each other in 2009! Together, they opened a theatre school dedicated to community building❤️

The Witch of Konotop returns to Hackney this January, bringing rich Ukrainian folklore and mysticism with current socio-political themes in this unique play filled comedy and drama.

Catch the witch on Wed 28 Jan right at Hackney Empire!

www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/the-w...

Last Sunday, Bridget Christie the creator and star of Channel 4’s hit sitcom, The Change was on Sunday Brunch!

You can catch up here: www.channel4.com/programmes/s...

And catch her brand new hilarious show at Hackney Empire, on Fri 20 Mar 🥔🍕

www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/bridg...

🚨 Join the team! We're looking for a brilliant Community Heritage Researcher and a Cultural Heritage Researcher to join us.

Apply by 10am on Mon 26 Jan and find out more via link below:
www.hackneyempire.co.uk/jobs

⭐ BBC Ten Pieces Schools Concert

Experience the power of live orchestral music on a musical journey through time in this spectacular BBC Ten Pieces Schools Concert, performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Tue 21 Apr, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/bbc-symphony-orchestra-ten-pieces-school-concerts

⭐Alter Ego 2026
East London’s biggest talent showcase, Alter Ego, is BACK!

Hosted by Steph, with special guest performances from Skarz, Boy Blue, Alter Ego 2025 winner Jaye, plus more to be announced, get ready for a night full of talent.

Fri 13 Feb, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/alter-ego-2026

⭐ 1Xtra’s Comedy Gala with Eddie Kadi & Friends

Join BBC Radio 1Xtra, Eddie Kadi, and some of his funniest friends for a night of belly-busting laughter at 1Xtra’s Comedy Gala.

Thu 5 Feb, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/1xtras-comedy-gala-2026

📢 We’re kicking off the year with a little something for everyone to enjoy, with three brand-new shows!

There’s still time to apply to be our new Director of Operations and Commercial, responsible for all operational areas, including visitor experience, bars, catering relationships, stage door, IT and technical.

Apply by Mon 12 Jan, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/jobs/director-of-operations-and-commercial

The festive fun is wrapping up but before we put the glitter away, we want to wish the whole Company and Creative team of Cinderella the best of luck on their final performance today!

Thank you for bringing the magic of Pantomime to Hackney Empire! 💛

📸 Mark Senior

From rehearsal to the heart of the city 🎶

Earlier this month our Community Choir filled the iconic Leadenhall Building with their beautiful voices. Check out these powerful images that capture what happens when people come together through songs during the festive season.

📸 David Monteith-Hodge

2025, what a year you’ve been!

🌟 Over 150,000 people came to see a show at Hackney Empire
🌟 We worked with over 3,000 people as part of Creative Futures projects and gave away over 2,500 free tickets

We can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store and we hope you’ll join us to find out!

Here are our Box Office Opening Hours for the festive period.

These are a little different to normal but you can still book your tickets online at any time by heading to hackneyempire.co.uk.

Bridget Christie: Jacket Potato Pizza | Hackney Empire Creator of Channel 4’s smash hit sitcom The Change Bridget Christie is coming to Hackney with her brand-new show! A kidney stone. A stray cat. An eye-them

Bridget Christie is back on tour and you can catch her live in Hackney with her brand-new show Jacket Potato Pizza in 2026. Here's a sneak peek at her hilarious quick wit humour! https://youtu.be/aUt_d-YYi6A

Fri 20 Mar, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/bridget-christie-jacket-potato-pizza

6 days to go and still debating what to get someone?!

Why not treat a loved one to the gift of Hackney Empire with a year’s Friends Membership, helping them to make memories that will last a lifetime. From £5 a month or £60 a year.💛

Give the gift today, https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/support-us

From ball gowns to big smiles, it’s been lovely welcoming generations of families back into our auditorium to experience the magic of Cinderella this festive season.

There’s still time for you & your family to enjoy this joyous celebration. www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/cinderella

📸 Mark Senior

We’re looking for a new Director of Operations and Commercial to be responsible for all operational areas, including visitor experience, bars, catering relationships, stage door, cleaning, IT and Technical.

Apply by Mon 12 Jan, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/jobs/director-of-operations-and-commercial

YouTube video by Hackney Empire Cinderella: Trailer

“I loved it so much… We recommend it to everybody!” 😍

The magic of pantomime is back in Hackney! Check out our new trailer to hear how much audiences are loving Cinderella! youtu.be/7bArDS6qid8

Book before 31 Dec, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/cinderella

🌟 Henning Wehn: Acid When

Join award-deserving German Comedy Ambassador Henning Wehn as he takes an unbiased look at climate change, a topic sure to delight audiences and no surprise.

📅Sun 25 Oct, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/henning-wehn-acid-wehn

🌟 I'm Grand Mam

Join your hosts Kevin Twomey and PJ Kirby for a night of comedy gold as they bring their wildly popular Irish podcast I’m Grand Mam to Hackney!

📅 Thu 25 Jun, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/im-grand-mam

🌟 Ravi Gupta

Forget your Kal Ki Chinta and join us for a Ravi Gupta’s brand-new stand-up special.

📅 Sun 31 May, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/ravi-gupta

🌟 David Olusoga: A Gun Through Time

Join David Olusoga as he uncovers the story of four firearms that changed the world and the lives of our ancestors.

📅 Wed 6 May, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/david-olusoga-a-gun-through-time

🌟 Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa: Paradise Gothic

Join Sri Lankan comedian, writer, & director Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa for a night of his trademark deadpan comedy with his brand-new show Paradise Gothic!

📅 Wed 15 Apr, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/vidura-bandara-rajapaksa-paradise-gothic

🌟 English Touring Opera – Gilbert & Sullivan: The Gondoliers

Gilbert and Sullivan’s last great success, The Gondoliers, is a fizzing comedy of mistaken identity that marries joy and chaos with a sharp satire of monarchy and class.

📅 Sat 11 Apr, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/eto-t...

🌟 English Touring Opera - Leoncavallo: Pagliacci

Art imitates life in English Touring Opera’s new production of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci which packs passion, melodrama and revenge.

📅 Fri 10 Apr, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/eto-pagliacci