Empire Theatre
Butler Road,
Halstead,
CO9 1LL
Butler Road,
Halstead,
CO9 1LL
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I visited the Empire on Friday 28th July 2017 to see “The Godfather”, starring Marlon Brando and Robert de Niro. For the time being, at least, films are shown from DVD/Blu-ray. I was made very welcome by members of the Trust, and John, the projectionist, was pleased to show me around before the film started. A very enjoyable evening.
On Friday 7th April 2017, following tireless work by a team of volunteers, films returned to the Empire, when “The Girl on the Train”, starring Emily Blunt, was screened. As the film shows are interspersed with the live events, they are restricted to Wednesday Afternoon Matinees and Friday Night Film Night, plus children’s matinees on Saturdays or Sundays.
Contradicting the assertion above, that film shows were re-introduced in 2012, the history page on the Empire’s website confirms that films had not been shown since July 2005. By that time, audiences had dwindled following the opening, in November 2002, of the Cineworld at Braintree. Now, the advent of digital projection has led to an increase in the number, and popularity, of community cinemas, and it is to be hoped that the good citizens of Halstead will support these film shows at the Empire.
Interior taken July 1988
The Empire continues to operate with live performances supplemented by a weekly session of bingo on a Monday evening. It has a plain but comfortable auditorium with a barrel vaulted ceiling. At the rear, the control room has been enhanced by the reconstruction (based on photographs) of the original 1915 proscenium arch. This is set above an authentic looking balcony, although seating at this theatre has always been on a single raked tier.
Photographs taken in December 2009 can be found here:-
Exterior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4189955104/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4189194023/
Auditorium:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4189193831/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4189193669/
Remains of 1957 proscenium (now backstage):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4189954468/
The Empire first opened in May 1915. It is listed in the Kinematograph Yearbook;1937 edition as having a seating capacity of 450 and down to 362 in the 1947 edition of Kine Yearbook.
In 2000 the seating capacity was 280.