After an 18-year fund-raising drive and £20m of refurbishment, Hackney is about to get its Edwardian baroque Empire Theatre back. Writ large, too: the theatre’s name has been spelled out in 2.6 m high, 24-tonne terracotta letters.
As designed by Tim Ronalds Architects, this novel architectural advertising is in super-modern, sanserif type. Yet it is theatrical and sculptural enough to complement two ornate domes of Frank Matcham’s original theatre. The match between new and old is sealed by the using the same colour of baked clay as the domes. Even the new brick facade behind the letters is glazed in matching terracotta by the same firm, Shaws of Darwen in Lancashire.
The huge lettering is supported on a corner building that replaced a 1950s pub. Its three floors now house a club, a hospitality room and an education centre. The historic theatre has been radically upgraded with new air-conditioning, wiring and fly-tower. The neo-baroque crimson and gold decor of the auditorium, however, has not been touched.
The refurbishment was completed by Epsilon Management Services after the first contractor, Sunley Turriff Construction, went into administrative receivership. Carr & Angier was the theatre consultant, Harris & Sutherland (now Babtie) the structural engineer, Max Fordham the services engineer and Boyden & Company the QS.
No comments yet