Troxy

Troxy in 2006

Troxy is an Art Deco events and concert venue at 490 Commercial Road in Stepney, in the East End borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England.

History

Troxy was designed by George Coles, the architect of many art deco cinemas in London. It featured a revolving stage, Wurlitzer organ and opulent decor with chandeliers and large sweeping staircases. It opened in 1933, and with 3,520 seats was one of England's largest cinemas at the time. As well as showing films, it hosted live performances by popular artists such as Vera Lynn, Clark Gable and the Andrews Sisters.

As a result of wartime damage and the subsequent general decline of the area, the cinema closed in November 1960.

Part of the stalls, with tables from when Troxy was a bingo hall

The London Opera Centre, a former school for the training of opera singers and professionals, was based there from 1963 to 1977.[1]

It was made a Grade II listed building in 1990.[2] Mecca then used it as a bingo hall until 2006.

It now serves as a flexible venue for events including films,[3] concerts, weddings, conferences and exhibitions. It also hosts mixed martial arts events, which includes top British promotion Ultimate Challenge MMA. It accommodates up to 2,600 people depending on the type of event.

Although Troxy remains an independent venue, Eventim UK has been running its ticketing operations since November 2014.[4]

Controversial events

The Troxy was criticised by some local residents after hosting a conference for Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir in 2009.[5] In 2010 the management cancelled a similar meeting at the request of Tower Hamlets Council; the English Defence League had planned a demonstration outside, but this was also called off.[6][7] The venue subsequently signed up to Tower's Hamlets "No Place For Hate" campaign and was the first commercial signatory to the project.

References

  1. ↑ Gilbert and Shir, A Tale of Four Houses, London: HarperCollins, 2003. ISBN 978-0-00-255820-4
  2. ↑ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1065742)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  3. ↑ Duncan Smith (14 December 2014). "Leicester Square: Do London's cinemas face a fight for survival?". BBC News. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Troxy signs with Eventim". Event Industry News. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  5. ↑ Fury over extremist Hizb ut-Tahrir meeting at East End's Troxy, East London Advertiser, 31 July 2009
  6. ↑ Council calls on the Troxy and Police to call off divisive conference, Tower Hamlets Council, 9 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  7. ↑ Dave Hill, Tower Hamlets: a unity march and some brewing mayoral tensions, Guardian.co.uk, 21 June 2010

External links

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51°30′45″N 0°02′30″W / 51.512465°N 0.041535°W / 51.512465; -0.041535

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