The proscenium was 54 feet wide and the stage 35 feet deep. The Empire Theatre had a fully equipped stage and for a period in the late-1940’s until February 1952, it was put to full use when a stage show accompanied the main feature film. There were 1,916 seats in the stalls, 180 loge seats in the front of the circle and the remainder of the circle seated 1,234. It housed 3,330 seats in its massive and decorative Adam style auditorium. The new Empire Theatre opened on 8th November 1928 with Norma Shearer in “Trelawney of the Wells” and for the following 33 years became the London premier home to MGM feature films. Chancellor of the noted UK theatre architectural firm Frank Matcham & Company. Boettcher (from the UK) and associated architect was Frederick G.M.

The auditorium was demolished and a new one built to the plans of Scottish born theatre architect Thomas W. This façade and entrance is what is seen today, as on 22nd January 1927, the old Empire Theatre was closed, after it had been taken over by Loew’s Inc. In 1893 a new façade and foyer was built on Leicester Square, designed by Frank T. The old Pit seating entrance can still be seen today if you go around to the left of the theatre into Leicester Street. The Empire Theatre was designed and built as a music hall by architect Thomas Verity and could seat 3,000.