KOKO

Koko stands in Camden Town, a corner of north London long known for music and markets. The building began life in 1900 as the Camden Theatre, a vast playhouse with more than two thousand seats. Designed by theatre architect W. G. R. Sprague, it was opened by the actress Ellen Terry, who had grown up nearby. By 1909 it had become a variety theatre called the Camden Hippodrome, and two years later it showed films as the Camden Hippodrome Picture Theatre. After wartime use as a BBC studio, the building stood empty until 1977, when it reopened as a live music venue. Koko is now counted among London’s leading live music stages. The venue has hosted acts from The Rolling Stones in 1964 to Arcade Fire in 2022, and it was the first UK stage for Madonna. Prince played there in 1988 with Ronnie Wood on guitar, and The Clash recorded a film at the venue in 1978. The building’s BBC years produced classic radio series such as The Goon Show and the first Monty Python album. After a major restoration led by Oliver Bengough, the venue won awards for its recycling work, achieving a ninety-five per cent waste diversion rate. Inside, the restored auditorium keeps the grandeur of the original theatre while offering modern technical facilities. The historic facade overlooks Camden High Street, a busy thoroughfare lined with music shops and street food stalls. Visitors can stand on the upper circle to see the ornate proscenium arch and the restored ceiling details. The ground floor bar area retains the intimate scale of the early music-machine years. From the street, the building’s curved corner and tall windows make it a landmark among Camden’s Victorian buildings.