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Koko (music venue)

Koko (stylised as KOKO, previously called The Music Machine and Camden Palace) is a concert venue and former theatre in Camden Town, London.

Former names

  • Camden Theatre (1900–1909)
  • Camden Hippodrome Theatre (1909–1913)
  • Camden Hippodrome Picture Theatre (1913–1945)
  • BBC Camden Theatre (1945–1977)
  • The Music Machine (1977–1982)
  • Camden Palace (1982–2004)

Camden Town
London, NW1
England

51°32′05″N 0°08′18″W / 51.534722°N 0.138333°W / 51.534722; -0.138333

London Underground Mornington Crescent

The Mint Group

Music venue

1,500

Music venue

2004

W. G. R. Sprague

Camden Palace Theatre

28 June 1972

1272425

The building was known as Camden Palace from 1982 until its 2004 purchase and extensive restoration, led by Oliver Bengough and Mint Entertainment.[1][2] Following the restoration, the venue was renamed as Koko, and is one of the premier live music venues in London.[1][3][4][5][6]


On the evening of 6 January 2020, a large fire broke out in the building.[7]

History[edit]

1900–1945: Theatre and cinema[edit]

The Camden Theatre opened on Boxing Day 1900.[8][9] 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 theatre architect W. G. R. Sprague.[10] Ellen Terry opened the theatre, then the most celebrated actress in England, who had lived in nearby Stanhope Street as a child.[11]


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:[12]

Recycling paper and cardboard (including flyers), as well as approximately 30,960 glass bottles, 20,088 aluminium cans and 77,166 plastic cups every month;

Replacing 982 light bulbs with low energy light bulbs;

Reducing emissions, by working with '' and Better Climate for Camden: by switching to a green energy supplier, Koko aims to prevent the release into the atmosphere of 520 tonnes of CO2 over the next 12 months;

The Carbon Trust

As Koko currently produces approximately 310.809 tonnes of CO2 per annum, they have teamed up with Solar Aid who supply Solar Lanterns to under-developed countries to help offset this.

Since the 2004 restoration, Koko's commitment to sustainability has been recognised with an award for Environmental Excellence in Camden Organisations (EECO), for Innovation in Waste Management and Recycling.[29] The venue has been praised for "the continued exceptional effort by staff to achieve a 95% recycling rate in the difficult events and entertainment industry, and for the use of recycled materials within the building in order to close the recycling loop."[30]


The key points in Koko's recycling and waste management strategy include:

Guide to British Theatres 1750–1950, John Earl and Michael Sell pp. 102 (Theatres Trust, 2000)  0-7136-5688-3

ISBN

Cinema Treasures history of Camden Hippodrome Picture Theatre

History of the Camden Palace

History of Camden Theatre with archive material