Hackney Empire to close for nine months
September 30, 2009 11:22am by Such Small Portions
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The Hackney Empire, one of London's flagship comedy and theatre venues, will close its doors for most of 2010 at the end of the Christmas pantomime season in January.
The announcement has sparked concerns that the closure may be more final than the scheduled nine months, as it has been widely reported that the Empire houses large debts.
However, a theatre spokesman was quoted saying he was confident it would reopen on schedule.
In additon to the closure, chief executive and artistic director Simon Thomsett has left by "mutual consent" and Claire Middleton has been brought in to replace him.
She told The Stage magazine that the closure would create the time to "stop, take a break and take stock of the way the organisation operates".
In 2004, the theatre underwent a £17m refurbishment but it is not known if further works are to take place before the scheduled reopening next Autumn.
Nor is it known where the annual Hackney Empire New Act Of The Year competition will be held. Previous winners include Stewart Lee and Ardal O'Hanlon. Fergus Craig won the 2009 event back in January.
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