Since 1903, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire has been a prominent landmark on London’s entertainment scene. Designed and built by Frank Matcham as the flagship of the “Empire” chain of variety theatres, it was taken under the wing of the BBC in the 1950s and converted into a television theatre. Shows such as Crackerjack, The Old Grey Whistle Test, That’s Life, Hancock and Wogan were transmitted from there. After a £2m refit, which retained the BBC’s technical infrastructure, the Empire opened in March 1994 as a 2000 capacity live venue. The music industry embraced it from the opening concert, Soundgarden (March 12th 1994), and has consistently provided a wealth of talent in music, comedy and club nights ever since.

The O2 Empire has frequently hit the headlines with its classic concerts by internationally acclaimed stars such as David Bowie (11th and 12th August 1997), Rolling Stones (June 8th 1999), The Who (22nd and 23rd December 1999), Oasis (8th October 2001), Elton John (16th and 17th December 2002) and Bon Jovi (18th September 2002); who were also the first band at the Empire to simultaneously broadcast their show to twenty cinemas across Europe via satellite and to a global audience of more than 375,000 on the Internet.

Awards:

• Music Week UK Venue of The Year 2005, 1999,1998, 1996, 1995
(nominated 2009 and 2008)

• Live! Magazine Venue of The Year 1995, 1996, 1998

• ILMC Venue of The Year 1999

CAPACITY

2,000 (max)

Stalls Standing: 1,150
Level 1
Unreserved Seating/Standing: 340
Level 2
Unreserved Seating/Standing: 225
Level 3
Unreserved Seating/Standing: 285
Fully Seated:    1,098

BARRIER

In-house pit barrier

STAGE DIMENSIONS

Depth   9.85m (8.5m to proscenium arch)
Width   15.5m
Height   72.5cm

Proscenium Arch
Height   9m
Width   9m

STAGE RISERS

4x 8’ x 4’ (2.4m x 1.2m) Steel Deck
Risers with various leg lengths

PA SPECIFICATION

P.A: EAW
14 x KF850
8 x SB850
4 x SB1000
2 x JF560 [Front Fills]
4 x JF260 [1st Balcony fills]
3 x UB42 [Rear Stalls Delays]
4 x JF260 [Top Balcony Delays]
Lab Gruppen Amplification

AUXILARY POWER

2 x Single Phase 63 Amp CeeForm

CONTROL

Midas Heritage H3000, 48 Mono / 8 Stereo Channel Console
Klark Teknik DN360 Equaliser
Klark Teknik DN60 Analyser
Tascam DAT Player
Denon Minidisc Player
Denon CD Player 
4 x Drawmer Dual Noise Gates
4 x BSS DPR402 2 Channel Compressor / De-essers
2 x DBX 160X Compressors

EFFECTS

Lexicon PCM 80
Yamaha SPX 1000
Yamaha SPX 990
TC Electronics M2000 FX Processor
TC Electronics D2 Delay unit

MONITORS

Midas XL3 40 Channel Console
6 x BSS Stereo 30 Band Equalisers
Yamaha SPX 990
Lexicon PCM80
4 x Stereo Drawmer DB201 Noise Gates
4 x BSS DPR402 Compressors
15 EAW SM15 Bi-Amped wedges on 8 Mixes + PFL
KT DN9848 Digital processors
2 x 3 way EAW KF850 Side-fills + 2 x SB850
1 x Meyer MSL2 / MSW Drum Fill
Lab Gruppen Amplification
BSS MSR-604 Mk2 Active Mic Splits

MICROPHONES

 2 x Beyer M.88
 6 x Shure Beta SM58
 6 x Shure SM58
10 x Shure SM57
 3 x Shure Beta SM57A
 1 x Shure Beta 52
 1 x Shure Beta 87
 6 x Sennheiser MD421
 6 x Shure SM98
 4 x Sennheiser MD609
 4 x AKG 451
 2 x AKG C414
 1 x AKG D112
 1 x EV RE20
 2 x Shure SM91
 2 x AKG C535
14 x BSS AR133 D.I. Boxes

LIGHTING SPECIFICATION

BOX TRUSS REAR:

Vision All Purpose Trussing 10m x 6m x (52cm x 52cm) Box
4 x Bar of 6 1k Par64 Very Narrow Spot 240v
2 x Bar 4 Par64 ACL
4 x Golden Scan 3 (8 Channel Mode)
6 x Robe Colorspot 1200 AT
2 x 4 cell Molefay

BOX TRUSS SIDES:

2 x Bar 4 Par64 ACL
2 x Robe Colorspot 1200 AT
2 x Bar of 6 1k Par CP61 Narrow Spot 240v
2 x Golden Scan 3 (8 Channel Mode)

FRONT TRUSS:

Vision Truss 11m x 52cm x 52cm
4 x Bar 6 1k Par64 Flood 120v
3 x 19? ETC Source 4
2 x 26? ETC Source 4
2 x 4 cell Molefay

OTHER:

8 x 1k Par 64 Floorlight (CP62/CP61)
2 x Bar 4 Par64 ACL
1 x Unique 2 Smoke Machine*
2 x FOH Pani 1202 Short Throw Follow
Spots c/w 4 Gel Changers
1 x Avolite Diamond 4 Elite
1 x 6 Station 2 Channel Metro Audio Intercom System
4 x Golden Scan II
2 x Avolites 72 Way (FD Series) Dimmer Racks

Approximately 24 spare dimming channels available, along with multicores to distribute onto the box, front truss, or on the floor, dummy loads also available
A selection of Lee Filters
3 Phase 300A (Camlocks) and 3 Phase 63A CeeForm

*Our license states that these are the only machines to be used in the building

**Strobe use is limited to no more than 4 flashes per second. This is rigorously enforced

DRESSING ROOMS

4 x dressing rooms
3 with showers

LOAD IN

The loading bay is on Shepherd’s Bush Green adjacent to 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire and on the same level. No load in or out is permitted in Pennard Road

STORAGE

Limited storage for cases

PARKING

Parking is limited within the area – none at the venue

PRODUCTION OFFICE

020 8742 9226
Wireless internet

AFTERSHOW / SPECIAL FUNCTION FACILITIES

Level One Bar
Capacity:   200
Lounge-style décor, live a/v feed from auditorium to plasma screens, photographic exhibits