Music and Dance
Madama Butterfly
27 April 2008 (Main House)
Ellen Kent & Opera International present the Ukrainian National Opera of Odessa
Puccini's Madama Butterfly - sung in Italian with supertitles. A spectacular traditional production from one of the loveliest opera houses in Europe with international Korean and Japanese sopranos, highly-praised chorus and full orchestra.
Showcase Act 2
4 June 2008 - 5 June 2008 (Main House)
National Opera Studio offers a thrilling introduction to opera. The operatic stars of the future perform Act 2 from Mozart's Don Giovanni, Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress and Janáček's The Cunning Little Vixen.
Ska comes to Hackney
28 June 2008 (Main House)
Club Ska presents; "Ska comes to the Hackney Empire". Featuring Dave Barker (singer of Dave and Ansel Collins no1 hit "Double Barrel" and top 10 hit "Monkey Spanner") with Live band Freetown.
Insanity
29 June 2008 (Main House)
A crazy extravaganza of musical contrasts featuring Mozambique's number one band and clean water crusaders Massukos, the Mancunian candidate himself Graham Massey, Tokyo diva Atsuko Kamura, award-winning Zheng virtuoso Su Zhuo, the magisterial Mayming, the lauded Lotus Pedals and the Woody Guthrie de nos jours The Boycott Coca-Cola Experience.
Confucius Says
3 July 2008 - 4 July 2008 (Main House)
The legends of China are the operatic ingredients of this battle of wits in which the Earth Mother challenges the spirits of water and fire to balance her sweet and sour recipe for the human soul.
I Love Dance
7 July 2008
Discover what moves Hackney! See the best choreographers and performers Hackney has to offer in this explosive night of dance as part of Big Dance 08. Featuring abstract street dance company Avant Garde and C-12 Dance Theatre alongside a host of others.
UK Bollywood Dance Championships 2008
8 July 2008 (Main House)
Diva Entertainments & Honey Kalaria present UK Bollywood Dance Championships 2008, allowing Bollywood dancers from UK to compete for the prestigious overall title.
One Night of Queen
13 July 2008
Join One Night of Queen for a night of non-stop hits. A stunning live two hour concert recreating and celebrating the music of Queen.
Chuck Berry Live at the Hackney Empire
19 July 2008 - 20 July 2008 (Main House)
The Legendary Chuck Berry in his only London Shows at the Hackney Empire Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th of July 2008.
Raw Feat - Outspoken Dance
23 July 2008 (Main House)
Raw Feat presents Outspoken Dance. London's emerging and established dancers, poets and artists, creating a fusion of contemporary dance, hip-hop theatre with spoken word collaborations.
Beggar & Co, the Funk Jazz Collective and the Grand Union All Stars
26 July 2008 (Main House)
Never before has so much UK Jazz and funk talent been amassed on our stage. Grand Union Orchestra's All Stars kick off this double bill, with a global line up playing exuberant African and Latin infused jazz, followed by a blisteringly big band groove of Britfunk heroes Beggar and Co and the Funk Jazz Collective.
Sing-A-Longa-Abba
14 October 2008 (Main House)
The concert event Abba fans have been waiting for...The Swedish super-group's greatest hits performed live with on-screen lyrics so everyone can join in!
Puccini's La Boheme
26 October 2008 (Main House)
Ellen Kent & Amphitheatre Productions present a spectacular new autumn tour, bringing a touch of Arena Di Verona to to the Hackney Empire following the premiere performance in Leeds Castle, Kent.
Shaolin Wheel of Life
4 November 2008 - 22 November 2008 (Main House)
Shaolin, Wheel of Life is the critically acclaimed live Kung-fu extravaganza that has thrilled and astonished audiences all over the world.