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Revision as of 14:13, 18 January 2013 by SilkTork (talk | contribs) (build lead and general tidy up)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| 1900 Camden Theatre 1909 Camden Hippodrome Theatre 1913 Camden Hippodrome Picture Theatre 1945 BBC Camden Theatre 1972 The Music Machine 1982 Camden Palace 2004 KOKO | |
 Camden Palace Theatre, now Koko | |
| Address | 1A Camden High Street, NW1 7JE Camden, London |
|---|---|
| Owner | The Mint Group |
| Designation | Grade II listed |
| Type | Concert venue |
| Capacity | 2,434 seated on 4 levels (1901) 1,410 (2008) |
| Current use | Concerts |
| Construction | |
| Rebuilt | 2004 refurbishment |
| Years active | 1900 - 1913 as theatre 1913 - 1939 as cinema 1945 - 1972 BBC studio |
| Architect | W.G.R. Sprague |
| Website | |
| www | |
Camden Palace Theatre (now Koko) is a Grade II listed theatre building in Camden Town, London. Designed by the theatre architect W.G.R. Sprague, it opened as the Camden Theatre in 1900 with seating for 2,434, and was one of the largest theatres in London outside the West End. Its name and usage changed over the years: in 1909 it became a variety theatre under the name Camden Hippodrome Theatre; and from 1913 it was a cinema called the Camden Hippodrome Picture Theatre. It was closed during the Second World War, then became a BBC radio theatre from 1945 to 1975 - programmes recorded at the theatre included The Goon Show. During the 1970s it was a live music venue, called the Music Machine, where bands included The Boomtown Rats and The Clash. In 1982 the venue was renamed Camden Palace and hosted music events such as the rock oriented "Feet First" on a Tuesday and trance electro "Peach" on a Friday night. It was sold in 1987 by the owners, the Camden Palace Group Plc, to European Leisure Plc. In 2004, following its purchase by Mint Group, it was redeveloped and renamed as Koko, with a capacity of 1,410. The video for the Placebo's Because I Want You single; Testament's 2005 Live in London CD/DVD release; and Channel 4's The Album Chart Show were recorded at the venue.
History
The Camden Theatre opened on Boxing Day 1900. With a capacity of 2,434 it was one of the largest theatres in London outside the West End. The theatre was designed by the prolific theatre architect W.G.R. Sprague with an exterior symmetrical stone façade in a Classical style with four stone pillars that are spaced between windows. The building is dominated by a large copper dome, that originally had an open lantern that was topped by a statue. There were also eight statues of classical figures mounted on the corner pediments of the building. Decorated in a Baroque style with naked female figures holding supports for the boxes and columns, the rectangular marble proscenium is topped by more plaster reliefs of reclining naked women. The ceiling contains a shallow dome.
The theatre was opened by Ellen Terry, then the most celebrated actress in England, who had lived in nearby Stanhope Street as a child. The St Pancras Gazette, a local newspaper, commented as follows in a review of the theatre's production of an opera called The Geisha in 1901:
- "It is a matter of special gratification that the opera was presented at our beautiful local theatre on a scale of magnificence and completeness which would do credit to a West End theatre, but this is nothing new at the Camden Theatre, being rather a continuation of the policy with which the proprietors started their enterprise, viz. to offer nothing to their patrons but standard work, which has received the unmistakable approval of critics and public."
On 6 December 1909 it reopened as a variety theatre and became the Camden Hippodrome Theatre. By 1911 films were being presented as part of the programme and in January 1913 it became a cinema known as the Camden Hippodrome Picture Theatre, operated by Biocolour Picture Theatres Ltd. From January 1928, they were taken over by the Gaumont British cinema circuit in July 1930.
Closed during the Second World War, it became a BBC radio theatre from 1945 to 1975. Among the first weekly series to be broadcast live from here were The Richard Tauber Programme . Later programmes recorded at the theatre included The Goon Show and Monty Python's Flying Circus album (2 May 1970). The Camden Studio was the only studio large enough for the full BBC Radio Orchestra. It was listed in 1972 as grade II for the architecture.
It then became a live music venue, called the Music Machine. Many punk bands played here in the late 1970s. The venue also formed the central location for the 1979 Disco Dance film The Music Machine, and many of the new wave and first wave punk bands also appeared there including The Boomtown Rats, The Clash and The Dickies. It was the last venue AC/DC's Bon Scott was seen drinking at before his death from alcohol poisoning in 1980. In 1981, Hazel O'Connor was filmed playing live for the film Breaking Glass.
In 1982 the venue was renamed Camden Palace, having been modelled on Studio 54 in New York. During this period it hosted the rock night "Feet First" on a Tuesday and trance electro night "Peach" on a Friday night. The nights were hosted by Steve Strange and Rusty Egan of electronic band Visage. It was sold in 1987 by the owners, the Camden Palace Group Plc, to European Leisure Plc. In 2004, following its purchase by Mint Group, it was redeveloped and renamed once again as Koko, with a capacity of 1,410. The previous industrial fittings of the Camden Palace were removed and it was repainted in a dark red colour and fitted with brand new sound equipment.
The video for the Placebo's Because I Want You single; Testament's 2005 Live in London CD/DVD release; and Channel 4's The Album Chart Show were recorded at the venue.
References
- Camden Theatre (Arthur Lloyd) accessed 21 Nov 2007
- St Pancras Gazette (1901)
- Grade II architectural listing Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1272425)". National Heritage List for England.
- "Sleaze Roxx: Bon Scott". Retrieved 2009-02-19.
- "A Unique Venue With a Unique History". KOKO corporate web site. Retrieved 2006-06-27.
- Bibliography
- Guide to British Theatres 1750-1950, John Earl and Michael Sell pp. 102 (Theatres Trust, 2000) ISBN 0-7136-5688-3
External links
- Cinema Treasures history of Camden Hippodrome Picture Theatre
- History of the Camden Palace
- History of Camden Theatre with archive material