Anyone attend Christmas Panto at Hackney Empire in the past?

Get the #38 from Museum Street.

The CityMapper app is your friend.

I've been there for a show with a bill of local artists and bands years ago. It's a beautiful old Victorian theatre, an interior equal or better than some west end theatres. Panto is Jack and the Beanstalk this year I see. The jokes in the panto might be a bit UK-centric, and Hackney-centric for you. Audiences for panto here in Hackney are mixed multiculturally and they'll be writing and casting more for a diverse British audience than the west end. They always put on a good production, from what I gather, and ticket prices seem quite reasonable.

Many of the older theatres in London don't have much legroom unfortunately.

Definitely worth doing.

As Trelawney says, 38 to Hackney Central / Mare Street or 55 to Hackney Town Hall.

https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/38/?direction=inbound

https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/55/?direction=inbound

https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/jack-and-the-beanstalk

Saw the same panto in the same theatre in 2021.

I see the fabulous Clive Rowe is returning to direct and star in it. He’s great.

It will be a fun evening out. We had burgers at The Lord Napier pub.

FYI UK theatres rarely have enough leg room.

It’s been a long time since we saw Ian McKellen play Widow Twankey alongside Roger Allam.
We have to get to a panto or will be very disappointed.
Just hope the jokes aren’t too inside for us Gringos😀
The theater looks so wonderful that if a few go over our heads we’ll still enjoy it.

Just booked a matinee,should be fun to watch kids having a great time.
We're likes kids ourselves so we'll fit right in!
Now to plan the trip there.
Looks like bus option is more fun,if we can get a front seat on upper deck.

Yes, I'm sure you'll get most of the jokes!

If you're having dinner beforehand, Sutton and Sons is a good place for fish and chips. It's just around the corner. There's Turkish and Vietnamese just up Mare Street from the theatre and a few pubs that will do dinners.

The 38 from the west end comes through Angel, Islington, Upper Street, which is great for restaurants. The 55 goes through Shoreditch first. Breaking your bus journey somewhere interesting for something to eat is good too.

If I'm coming from the west end to Hackney, I'll usually go to the bus stop at Tottenham Court Road / New Oxford Street. You have the choice of the 55 or 38 there. I guess if I were coming from Strand I'd catch the 38 at Piccadilly Circus or Shaftesbury Avenue.

https://www.suttonandsons.co.uk/hackney-central-dine-in-menu

No prices on this menu it seems, but gives you an idea anyway. I'd expect £15-20 for fish and chips here.

We haven't planned what to do for after the show.
It's our last night in town,at the moment thinking about seeing Hay Fever.
Love the two leads!
Unfortunately at the moment tickets are expensive.
Or just strolling along the Thames and have an early dinner
Also would be nice to see Gillian Anderson/Billy Crudup in Virginia Wolf.
Not same day though.

Just got two seats for Matinee of Virginia Wolf.
Now for dinner plans.
Might see if Indigo is still around.

btw
Thanks to all that have chimed in to help!

I tried some Google Gemini AI prompts for eating spots. Interesting!

https://share.google/aimode/YuWFrOlmuX0SZJgY2 Top restaurants in Upper Steet.

https://share.google/aimode/0PyF4ngZAcZb9sYDS Time Out and Trip Advisor favourites in Shoreditch

https://share.google/aimode/sxRyttDVHdUiwPqGl Mare Street and Hackney Central

edited to say: Two shows in one day is pretty hardcore. The gap you've got between shows will probably affect your dinner plans. Might not have time to sit down for dinner before a panto in Hackney if you're in Soho for a matinee.