Hippodrome 125 - An Evening celebration of stories, songs & reminiscences

Welcome to Hippodrome 125 - An Evening celebration of stories, songs & reminiscences! Join us in Lola's within the Hippodrome Casino, for an evening of songs, stories and reminiscences as we mark 125 years since the London Hippodrome first opened for business.

Time travel through this iconic venue’s rich and varied history with Lucinda Gosling, author of ‘The London Hippodrome: An Entertainment of Unexampled Brilliance’ who will reveal some of the building’s most extraordinary moments; from its early years as a circus of variety to the arrival of ragtime and jazz, followed by glamorous revue, hit musicals and a transformation that made it, quite literally, the Talk of the Town. Providing musical accompaniment to this very special evening will be seasoned West End and cabaret performers, Robert Hazle and Wendy Carr, performing a selection of songs closely associated with the Hippodrome’s theatrical past.

From plunging elephants and Houdini’s handcuff challenge, to Julie Andrews’ first stage performance and Judy Garland’s last, this promises to be a fun and fascinating celebration of a landmark building’s landmark birthday. Come and join the party!

Featuring:

LUCINDA GOSLING - Lucinda is a writer, historian, curator and speaker with a special interest in the cultural and visual history of the early twentieth century. She is author of over fifteen books on a variety of subjects ranging from high society holidays to a artist John Hassall, long listed for the William H. M. Berger prize for British Art History. She has had bylines in History Today, Tatler, Country Life and World of Interiors and has given lectures at venues including the NPG, Tate, Fashion & Textile Museum, the London Transport Museum and the Art Deco Society. In 2021 she authored, 'The London Hippodrome - An Entertainment of Unexampled Brilliance', a lavishly illustrated, definitive history of this iconic venue. Lucinda works as Head of Sales and Research at historical image specialist, Mary Evans Picture Library, where the archive provides infinite inspiration for projects, past, present and future.

ROBERT HAZLE - Robert Hazle is an award-winning cabaret performer and musical director. Recent credits include A Marvellous Party (Prince of Wales Theatre) with Judi Dench and Ian McKellan, Noel Coward’s London Calling! at the Duke of York’s Theatre (which he devised, and which starred Damian Lewis and Indira Varma) and cabaret shows at Crazy Coqs, Phoenix Arts Club, Riverside Studios and Chichester Festival Theatre. He has performed at fringe festivals in Edinburgh and in Buxton, where he won Best Music Show for “Around The World With Noel Coward”.Musical direction also includes the European premiere of Nutcracker the Musical (Pleasance Theatre, Islington), [title of show] (Camden Fringe), Gilbert & Sullivan’s Ruddigore (Illyria Open Air Theatre) and 4 years as Onstage MD for the actor-musician pantomimes at the Key Theatre, Peterborough. Robert is resident musical director/composer for Partnership Theatre (Robin Hood, King Arthur’s Quest, The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and others).When not performing, Robert works at the Noel Coward Foundation & Archive Trust and often gives talks on Coward’s work and British musical theatre in general.www.roberthazle.com | @robert_hazle

WENDY CARR - Wendy is a singer-actress hailing from the North East of Scotland with a diverse background in opera, musical theatre and cabaret, and as a recitalist and session singer. Credits include: The Sound of Music (Chichester Festival Theatre); Grayson the Musical workshop (Birmingham Rep at The Barbican, London);The Marriage of Figaro (Northern Ballet and touring); A Well-Remembered Voice (Leicester Square Theatre); What Would Julie Do? (various London venues); Closer Than Ever (The Pheasantry, London); feature film Everything After (Texture Films); Bath Rugby (RFU); Friday Night is Music Night (BBC Radio 2); Trinity Musical Theatre 2023 Singing Syllabus; and most recently Jack & the Beanstalk (Watersmeet).As well as a actor/soloist, she’s a founding member and the musical director of London's leading classical-crossover girl group, Ida Girls. With the Ida Girls she has appeared on ITV’s Walk the Line; gained entry into the Christmas classical charts with their Christmas album, Believe; appeared on BBC1's This Week: Christmas Special; was nominated for a Classical Brit award; performed at West End LIVE; and featured on charity single The Hero alongside other West End and Hollywood faces.

And special guest, ROSALYN WILDER will be sharing her memories of the Talk of the Town years.

Host or Publisher Lucinda Gosling - with Hippodrome Casino