Liverpool Empire Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Liverpool Empire Theatre |
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The Empire Theatre in 2018
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| General information | |
| Type | Theatre |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Address | Lime Street |
| Town or city | Liverpool, England |
| Coordinates | 53°24′32″N 2°58′41″W / 53.4089°N 2.9781°W |
| Groundbreaking | 1924 |
| Completed | 1925 |
| Opened | 9 March 1925 |
| Renovated | 1977, 1999 |
| Client | Moss Empires |
| Owner | Ambassador Theatre Group |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Steel frame |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | W. and T. R. Milburn |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | 2,348 |
The Liverpool Empire Theatre is a famous theatre located on Lime Street in Liverpool, England. It's a really big and important place for shows! This theatre opened in 1925, but it's actually the second theatre to be built on this spot. It has the largest two-level seating area (called an auditorium) in the whole United Kingdom, with space for 2,348 people to watch a show.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The very first theatre on this site was called the "New Prince of Wales Theatre and Opera House." It opened on October 15, 1866, and was the biggest theatre in Liverpool at that time. Less than a year later, in July 1867, its name changed to the "Royal Alexandra Theatre and Opera House." This was to honor Princess Alexandra, who was the Princess of Wales.
In 1894, this first theatre closed down. But it didn't stay closed for long! It reopened the next year under new owners and was renamed "The Empire." In 1896, it was sold for £30,000, which was a lot of money back then. The first Empire Theatre closed for good on February 16, 1924, and was then taken down.
The current Liverpool Empire Theatre opened its doors on March 9, 1925. For many years, it was owned by a company called Moss Empires. In 1979, the local government, Merseyside County Council, bought the theatre. Over the next two years, they spent £680,000 to make the backstage areas better and to make the stage and orchestra pit bigger.
The theatre got another big update in 1999. This time, the stage was made even larger, and the facilities for the audience were improved. By 2002, the theatre was owned by Clear Channel Entertainment. In that same year, a new extension was added to the north side of the building.
What Makes it Special?
The Liverpool Empire Theatre was designed by architects W. and T. R. Milburn. The beautiful carvings and decorations inside were made by E. O. Griffiths. The building has a strong steel frame, with a front made of Portland stone and bricks on the other sides. The style of the front of the theatre is called Neoclassical, which means it looks like old Greek and Roman buildings.
The front of the theatre has five main sections. The middle three sections are taller than the two on the sides. At the ground level, you'll find the entrance doors. Above them is a cool steel roof-like structure called a canopy, decorated with round designs and patterns. The floor above has a balcony with tall, fancy columns.
Inside the Theatre
When you walk in, you enter the main lobby on the ground floor. There are stairs on both sides that lead up to the balcony seating. The seats inside are arranged in a special way, sloping down and to the sides. This helps everyone have a great view of the stage! The inside decorations are in a style called Louis XVI, which is very grand. You might even spot some interesting decorations like carved elephant figures that look like they're holding up parts of the building!
Protecting its History
The Liverpool Empire Theatre is a very important building. It was officially listed as a Grade II listed building on October 16, 1990. When it first opened, its design was considered very modern because of the way the seats were arranged. With 2,350 seats, it has Britain's largest two-level auditorium. The theatre is also located in a special area called the William Brown Street Conservation Area, which means it's protected for its historical importance.
Famous Faces on Stage
Many famous performers have appeared at the Empire Theatre over the years! In the very first theatre on this site, stars like George Formby Sr., Harry Tate, and Florrie Forde performed.
When the current theatre opened in 1925, the first show was Better Days. After that, many huge names came to perform, including Fred Astaire and his sister Adele Astaire, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Mae West, and even Laurel and Hardy.
A local pop group called The Quarrymen played at the theatre in 1957. They came back in 1959, but their name had changed to "Johnny and the Moondogs." They returned to the Empire again in 1962, and by then, they were known as The Beatles! The Beatles played their last show at the Empire on December 5, 1965.
The Rolling Stones also performed at the Empire Theatre in 1966, along with Ike & Tina Turner and The Yardbirds.
In the 1970s, two special shows for the Royal Family were held at the Empire. In 2007, the theatre hosted the Royal Variety Performance. This was a big honor because Liverpool was chosen to be the European Capital of Culture the next year.
Many other amazing singers and musicians have performed here, including Johnny Mathis, The Carpenters, Neil Sedaka, The Osmonds, Shirley Bassey, Kylie Minogue, Kate Bush, Elton John, Cilla Black, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Chuck Berry, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rush, The Police, Queen, Santana, Iron Maiden, and Genesis.
One funny story happened in 1976 when Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel were playing. During a song, Steve Harley accidentally fell off the stage and into the orchestra pit! But he was a true professional and kept performing as if nothing had happened, even though he broke three ribs.
The Empire Today
The Empire Theatre is still a very busy place today! It hosts all kinds of shows, like musicals, pop concerts, comedians, plays, opera, and even wrestling.
Some people say the theatre is haunted! There are stories about at least two ghosts: one is a former painter named Len, and the other is a young girl, about nine or ten years old, dressed in old-fashioned Victorian clothes.
Since 2011, the Empire Theatre has been part of the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), which owns many theatres.
Every summer, the theatre puts on a musical with young local performers. This is part of a two-week summer program called Stage Experience. Kids get to work with a professional team to put on a full musical! This program started in 2007 with Summer Holiday. Other musicals they've performed include The Wiz (2008), Bugsy Malone (2009), Fame (2010), West Side Story (2011), Annie (2012), Grease (2013), Cats (2014), and Rent (2019).
See also
In Spanish: Empire Theatre (Liverpool) para niños
