The Troxy is an art deco

Art Deco

Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...

 theatre and concert venue at 490 Commercial Road

Commercial Road

Commercial Road , in length, is in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in the East End of London. It runs from "Gardener's Corner" , through Stepney to the junction with Burdett Road , Limehouse from which point the route becomes the East India Dock Road...

 in Stepney

Stepney

Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...

, in the East End

East End of London

The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...

 borough of Tower Hamlets, London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, UK.

History

The Troxy was designed by George Coles

George Coles (architect)

George Coles was an English architect, mostly known as a designer of Art Deco-style cinema theatres between the 1920s and the 1930s. His works include the Gaumont State Cinema in Kilburn, the Carlton Cinema in Islington, the Troxy in Stepney and several Odeons, commissioned by Oscar Deutsch...

, the architect of many art deco cinemas in London. It featured a revolving stage

Revolving stage

A revolving stage is a mechanically controlled platform within a theatre that can be rotated in order to speed up the changing of a scene within a show...

, Wurlitzer

Wurlitzer

The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....

 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

Vera Lynn

Dame Vera Lynn, DBE is an English singer-songwriter and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during World War II. During the war she toured Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops...

, Clark Gable

Clark Gable

William Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...

 and the Andrews Sisters

The Andrews Sisters

The Andrews Sisters were a highly successful close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia Andrews , soprano Maxene Angelyn Andrews , and mezzo-soprano Patricia Marie "Patty" Andrews...

.

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

The London Opera Centre

London Opera Centre

The London Opera Centre, a school for the training of opera singers and other opera professionals, existed in England between 1963 and 1977. It was located in the former Troxy Cinema on Commercial Road in London's East End Borough of Stepney . The Troxy, with 3,520 seats, opened in 1933 and was...

, a former school for the training of opera singers and professionals, was based there between 1963 and 1977.

It was given protection as a Grade II listed building in 1990. Mecca then used it as a bingo

Bingo (Non-US)

Bingo or housey-housey or housie is a gambling game that began in Italy in the 1500s. The game is believed to have migrated to France, Great Britain, and other parts of Europe in the 1700s...

 hall until 2006.

It now serves as a flexible venue for events including concerts, weddings, conferences and exhibitions. It also hosts martial arts championships including Ultimate Challenge UK. It accommodates up to 2,600 people depending on the type of event.

Controversial events

The Troxy was criticised by some local residents after hosting a conference for Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir

Hizb ut-Tahrir

Hizb ut-Tahrir is an international Sunni. pan-Islamic political organisation but keeps it open for all including shias,some of its beliefs are against sunni school of thought, whose goal is for all Muslim countries to unify as an Islamic state or caliphate ruled by Islamic law and with a caliph...

 in 2009. In 2010 the management cancelled a similar meeting at the request of Tower Hamlets Council; the English Defence League

English Defence League

The English Defence League is a far-right street protest movement which opposes what it considers to be a spread of Islamism, Sharia law and Islamic extremism in the UK. The EDL uses street marches to protest against Islamic extremism...

had planned a demonstration outside, but this was also called off.

External links

• http://www.troxy.co.uk/
• http://www.troxy-events.co.uk/
  • Present-day Photo Gallery
• The Troxy at London Eastside (a Tower Hamlets Council website)