Shepherd's Bush Empire
Shepherd's Bush Empire (currently known as O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire for sponsorship reasons, and formerly known as the BBC Television Theatre) is a music venue in Shepherd's Bush, West London, run by the Academy Music Group. It was originally built in 1903 as a music hall for impresario Oswald Stoll, designed by theatre architect Frank Matcham; among its early performers was Charlie Chaplin. In 1953 it became the BBC Television Theatre.[1] Since 1994, it has operated as a music venue. It is a Grade II listed building.[2]
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  O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire Location within London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham | |
| Former names | Shepherd's Bush Empire (1903–53; 1994–2009) BBC Television Theatre (1953–1994) |
|---|---|
| Address | Shepherd's Bush Green London, W12 United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°30′13″N 0°13′28″W |
| Public transit | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Goldhawk Road Shepherd's Bush.svg.png.webp){kind=small}  Shepherd's Bush |
| Owner | Academy Music Group |
| Operator | Academy Music Group |
| Capacity | 2,000 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 17 August 1903 |
| Renovated | 1993 |
| Architect | Frank Matcham |
| Project manager | Oswald Stoll |
| Website | |
| o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk | |
History
Origins
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]
Second World War
During the Second World War, 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]
Post war era
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, Val Doonican, 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.
In 1993, The Shepherd's Bush Empire was acquired by 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 then it has hosted gigs and dance nights.
Shepherd's Bush Empire today
Live performances filmed at the venue and released on DVD include a King Crimson concert on 3 July 2000, presented on the two-disc set Eyes Wide Open, Siouxsie and the Banshees' The Seven Year Itch album and DVD recorded over two nights In July 2002, 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. On 27, 28 and 29 February, and 1 March 2008, gothic rock pioneers The Mission recorded their farewell concerts, The Final Chapter, for release on CD and DVD. In addition to this, Transatlantic's third live release, "Whirld Tour 2010: Live in London", was recorded and filmed at the venue. Nik Kershaw released a DVD of his September 2012 performance there, recorded as part of the tour promoting his album Ei8ht (album). Folk-rock band Mumford & Sons recorded their album Live from Shepherd's Bush Empire there. In 2015, Public Image Ltd recorded their album "Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire" there.
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.
References
- Denny, Barbara, Hammersmith and Shepherd's Bush Past, Historical Publications Ltd, London (1995), ISBN 0 948667 32 X
Notes
- BBC handbook British Broadcasting Corporation – 1961 "In 1953 the old Shepherds Bush Empire was acquired mainly for the production of light entertainment shows."
- Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1358593)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
- Denny, p.93
- Venue History (Official site) accessed 19 August 2008
- Shepherd's Bush Blog. Retrieved December 2011
- Denny, p.101
- Unofficial History of Shepherds Bush Empire as BBC Television Theatre. Retrieved 19 August 2008