There was an earlier thread on the death of UK music halls: this is good news:
Sugar's œ1.3m is sweet for theatre

by Robin Stringer, Arts Correspondent Former Spurs chairman Sir Alan Sugar has effectively sealed the future of the 100-year-old Hackney Empire theatre with a œ1.3 million donation. Sir Alan, whose disillusionment with the north London football club came to an end last week, provided the donation, which means that the Empire has now reached its œ15 million appeal target. Work should begin on its restoration in May and be completed by August 2002.

"I've always been been proud of my Hackney roots," said Sir Alan. "I was born there, went to Brook House School and, indeed, bought fish and chips in the old shop next to the Empire.

"I am delighted to be able to put something back into the community and look forward to enjoying again some great nights at the Hackney Empire."

Sir Alan's gift was acclaimed by Griff Rhys Jones, chairman of the Hackney Empire appeal. He said: "Thanks to him we have raised the necessary matching funds to trigger our Lottery awards."

Sir Alan first became involved with the Hackney Empire when he attended a Royal Gala performance in 1999 and gave a substantial donation to help kick-start the appeal.

Then, in December, he called Rhys Jones and told him that he had just agreed to sell Spurs, confiding that "his efforts for the community during his stewardship of the club seemed to have been wasted".

He wanted to direct some of the sale proceeds back into Hackney where he was brought up and where he started his electronics business. However, Sir Alan asked that his œ1.3 million donation remain undisclosed until he had stepped down from the Spurs chairmanship.

His donation is the final and crucial piece in a complicated funding jigsaw. Just as it is dependent on the successful outcome of the Empire's applications for Heritage and Arts Council Lottery awards, so those two bodies depend on matching funds from the private sector being raised.

The timing of the donation was crucial. Had the necessary private sector funds not been raised by 27 March, the Hackney Empire stood to lose a promised œ3 million from the Heart of Hackney Single Regeneration Budget, a loss which might have jeopardised the entire scheme.

The building project will restore the opulent auditorium to its original splendour and revolutionise the theatre's facilities, providing a full-size orchestra pit and modern technical systems. A new education studio will be added, while greatly improved production facilities will enable the theatre to put on more shows of a wider variety.

Performers will at last get properly equipped dressing rooms and audiences will enjoy all the comforts of a modern theatre with lift access to all levels.

The success of the restoration appeal represents a great victory for director Roland Muldoon, who saved the theatre from demolition 15 years ago and has since turned it into a vibrant centre of entertainment.

Its range is such that it can claim to be not only Britain's most important black theatre but a key comedy venue and London's third opera house, not to mention a venue for high quality Shakespeare.

However, Muldoon was quick to pay tribute to his chairman, Griff Rhys Jones. "I think he is bloody wonderful," he said.

"I have never seen anybody so active and so committed to popular theatre. We will be eternally grateful to him.

"On Saturday at our Stars of the East End celebrations, we shall all get seriously drunk in honour of Griff but he will be on his usual Diet Coke."
RtS "Don't clap too loud, it's a very old building"