Empire Theatre celebrates centenary of showbusiness

For the last 100 years it has staged stars from The Beatles, Diana Ross, Frank Sinatra and Kylie, seen a world war and a coronavirus pandemic - and now it is celebrating its centenary anniversary.

Back in March 1925, the Liverpool Empire Theatre opened its doors for the first time, as the largest two-tier auditorium in Britain, with more than 2,300 seats.

There had been another theatre on site - named The Prince of Wales Theatre and Opera House - but it was knocked down to make way for a "better and bigger" location, the theatre's senior creative learning manager Natalie Flynn told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"When the Empire Theatre was first built, it didn't have a bar because its American designer was living under the law of prohibition and so out in the States, you couldn't consume or purchase alcohol in public."

She says a bar was added "very quickly".

During World War Two, the theatre remained opened "despite there being government orders to stop large congregations", Ms Flynn says.

"People of Liverpool really wanted to stand up in the face of adversity. They were strong-willed so they campaigned to keep the theatre open.

"Every single night, there were was a show on our stage – whether that was for the allied troops stationed nearby or for the general public."

Staff even found wartime programmes which advised theatregoers "to stay inside, stay safe and continue to enjoy the show" during air raids.

Ms Flynn recalls how one woman told recent staff that she risked her mother's disapproval to see a show with her boyfriend during the war.

"They were caught up in an air raid and they were fine – nothing happened to them… but what was really nice was that lady went on to marry that nice young man and they did come back to celebrate one of their very big wedding anniversaries."

Diane Belding became the theatre's director in 2012 and describes it as "the best theatre in the country" boasting chandeliers, a "huge" stage for touring productions from London's West End and views of St George's Hall.

"It's often commented on by visiting companies about how wonderful the audience reaction is and especially at the end of the show, they are so receptive… it's spine-tingling."

She says audiences have grown to about 600,000 visitors every year, which she puts down to the "high calibre" of productions such as The Lion King and the upcoming Hamilton and Matilda.

It was not something she dared imagine during the "low moment" when the impact of coronavirus closed theatres during lockdown.

"I remember it so very, very well when I had to tell everyone to go home and only expecting it to be a couple of weeks… and then we went to 508 days that the venue was closed to the public."

She visited the empty theatre weekly to check it and recalls how it was an "eerie place and space to be in when it's dark and empty".

"I actually remember thinking, I don't think it will ever come alive again - it was so eerie - because the theatre just thrives on people.

"And then we opened and it just brought it back to life instantly."

Bill Kenwright, the late theatre producer and Everton chairman, described the Empire as "my favourite theatre in the world".

A bust of him was unveiled ahead of a gala staging of his production of Liverpool-set Blood Brothers for the theatre's 100th anniversary.

His partner and actress Jenny Seagrove said: "This was his hometown and his home theatre."

More than 30 staff work full-time for the theatre but a performance can require about 70 workers to look after audiences and visiting productions.

Looking ahead to the future, Ms Belding said: "Our diary is already getting filled up with wonderful productions for forthcoming years and we're really looking forward to being here for another 100."

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