Shepherd's Bush Empire

For the Joe Bonamassa album, see Shepherds Bush Empire (album).
O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Former names Shepherd's Bush Empire (1903-53; 1994-2009)
BBC Television Theatre (1953-94)
Address Shepherd's Bush Green
London W12 8TT
England
Location Shepherd's Bush
Owner Academy Music Group
Operator Academy Music Group
Capacity 2,000
2,332 (1903-95)
Construction
Opened 17 August 1903 (1903-08-17)
Renovated 1993
Architect Frank Matcham
Project manager Oswald Stoll
Website
Venue Website

The O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (formerly BBC Television Theatre) is a music venue in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, run by the Academy Music Group. It was originally built in 1903 as a music hall, but in 1953 it became the BBC Television Theatre.[1] Since 1991, it has operated as a music venue. It is a Grade II Listed Building.[2]

History

Queue for Pearl Jam at the Empire in August 2009
Shepherd's Bush Empire

The Shepherd's Bush Empire was built in 1903 for impresario Oswald Stoll, designed by theatre architect Frank Matcham.[3] Ashly's Circus performed at Shepherd's Bush Empire and presented to George Strong a trophy for riding The Bucking Mule "Sloper' on 8 September 1905. The first performers at the new theatre were The Fred Karno Troupe including Charlie Chaplin (1906). The Empire staged music-hall entertainments, such as variety performances and revues, until the early 1950s, by which time the popularity of these forms of entertainment was declining.[4]

During World War II, the Shepherd's Bush Empire narrowly escaped being hit by a flying bomb, which in 1944 hit the neighbouring Shepherd’s Bush Pavilion, destroying the original interior. The Pavilion did not re-open until 1955.[5][6]

In 1953, the Empire was sold to the BBC, which put it to use as a television studio–theatre, renaming it the BBC Television Theatre.[3] Among the programmes produced there were Crackerjack, The Old Grey Whistle Test, That's Life!, The Generation Game, Juke Box Jury, This is Your Life, Jim'll Fix It, most of the BBC's light entertainment music shows, such as those starring Cliff Richard, Lulu, Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield, Shirley Bassey, Vera Lynn, Harry Secombe, Petula Clark, as well as the UK's Eurovision Song Contest preliminary heat, A Song For Europe. In 1985, the theatre was turned over for exclusive use by Wogan, which was broadcast three nights a week from the theatre.[7]

The BBC vacated the building in 1991. It was taken over again, this time in 1993 by the entrepreneur Andrew Mahler, who invested over £1m in the building in improvements and refurbishments.[3] In 1994 the building re-opened under its original name of the Shepherd's Bush Empire, since when it has hosted gigs and dance nights.[7]

Shepherd's Bush Empire Today

Live performances filmed at the venue and released on DVD include a 2002 performance by punk rock/goth band The Damned, Frank Turner's "Take To The Road" DVD, Opeth's first live DVD (Lamentations) recorded at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on Thursday 25 September 2003, a November 2005 concert by indie band The Wedding Present and The Only Ones comeback concert in June 2007. In November 2007 Amy Winehouse recorded I Told You I Was Trouble: Live in London. In addition to this, Transatlantic's third live release, "Whirld Tour 2010: Live in London", was recorded and filmed at the venue. Folk rock band Mumford & Sons recorded their album Live from Shepherd's Bush Empire there.

In the dance music community it is also known to host raves and hard dance events, such as Frantic or Heat.

The Empire has a capacity of only 2,000, but it has been chosen as a venue for small gigs, or as a venue for 'surprise' warm-up gigs. Prior to their 1999 tour, the Rolling Stones put in a performance, with Sheryl Crow as support, on 8 June.

Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines made a famously controversial remark about George W Bush at the club in 2003.[8]

American pop girl group Fifth Harmony performed their concert at the venue on 3 November 2015 as part of the European leg of their extended Reflection Tour.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ BBC handbook British Broadcasting Corporation - 1961 "In 1953 the old Shepherds Bush Empire was acquired mainly for the production of light entertainment shows."
  2. ↑ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1358593)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Denny, p.93
  4. ↑ Venue History (Official site) accessed 19 August 2008
  5. ↑ Shepherd's Bush Blog Retrieved December 2011
  6. ↑ Denny, p.101
  7. 1 2 Unofficial History of Shepherds Bush Empire as BBC Television Theatre accessed 19 August 2008
  8. ↑ Clarke, Betty (12 March 2003). ""The Dixie Chicks" concert review". Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 13 December 2010.


Coordinates: 51°30′13″N 0°13′28″W / 51.50349°N 0.22433°W / 51.50349; -0.22433

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