Sunderland Empire Theatre
Shown here are the Main Doors, with the secondary Stalls entrance to the left. The Box Office is located 20 yards down the street.
City	Sunderland
Country	United Kingdom
Owned by	City of Sunderland Council
Capacity	2000
Opened	1 July 1907
Previous names	The Empire Palace

The Sunderland Empire Theatre is located in High Street West in Sunderland, North East England. It is owned by the City of Sunderland Council and operated by Live Nation UK Ltd, on behalf of the Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust. It is one of the largest capacity venues in the North, that of 1860 fully seated, and approximately 2000 when all standing positions are occupied, and is the only theatre between Manchester and Edinburgh that is large enough to house today's large-scale West End theatrical productions. The auditorium is also one of the few remaining in the UK to have four tiers, namely the Orchestra Stalls, the Dress Circle, the Upper Circle and the Gallery. There are four private boxes on the Dress Circle level, as well as two proscenium boxes on the Upper Circle balcony. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (800x1067, 665 KB) The Sunderland Empire Theatre in Sunderland, Tyne anad Wear, England. ... , The Wearmouth Bridge Sunderland (pronounced: , or ) is a city in North East England which was formerly a county borough, and is now part of the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear. ... North-East England is one of the nine official regions of England and comprises the combined area of Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear and a small part of North Yorkshire. ... Live Nation UK is the United Kingdom subsidiary of Live Nation International, formerly the entertainment division of Clear Channel, a major US media conglomerate but now a separate and independent corporation world-wide. ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... , Edinburgh (() pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second largest city. ... West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland. Along with New Yorks Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre...

The Empire Palace, as it was originally called, was established independently by Richard Thornton after his partnership with theatre magnate Edward Moss was dissolved. It was opened on 1 July 1907 by variety and vaudeville star Vesta Tilley, who had laid the foundation stone on 29 September 1906. Sir Horace Edward Moss (1852–25 November 1912) was a British theatre impresario and the founder of the Moss Empires theatre company (now known as the Stoll Moss Group). ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Vesta Tilly (May 13, 1864 – September 16, 1952) was an English male impersonator. ... is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

The dome on the 90ft tower featured a revolving sphere bearing the statue of Terpsichore, the Greek Muse of dance and choral song. These were removed during World War II for safety reasons, after a bomb which had fallen nearby rocked the building. The original statue is now located at the top of the main staircase, with a replica on the dome itself. The dome and tower have recently been refitted with a state-of-the-art LED and floodlight system that illuminates the main entrance in the evening. Terpsichore, Muse of Music and Dance, oil on canvas by Jean-Marc Nattier 1739 Terpsichore holding an Aeolian harp. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Until the mid-twenties, the Empire enjoyed much extended success from its variety performances. With the decline of touring theatre, a projection box was added in 1930 and for the first time, the theatre played host to motion pictures. On the 5th November 1956 Tommy Steele made his stage debut heading the bill in a variety show. Steele, Britain's first rock 'n' roll singer, went on to become one of the world's leading song and dance men appearing at the Empire many times. Although audience figures were high during the 1940's and early 1950's, the theatre closed in May 1959 due to the growing popularity of television and cinema. It reopened in 1960, however, after Sunderland Council bought the theatre. The Beatles performed there during their first UK national tour. Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ...

Sid James famously suffered a heart attack during a performance on the opening night of The Mating Season on 26 April 1976 and died on the way to hospital. Later it was rumoured that his ghost was in the dressing room he occupied on the night of his death; after one experience during a gig there, the comedian Les Dawson refused to play the venue again. Whilst the ghost of James is said to haunt backstage, the spirits of Vesta Tilley and Molly Moselle are said to haunt the front-of-house areas. Molly Moselle was a stage manager for Ivor Novello's The Dancing Years in 1949. Leaving the theatre to purchase a birthday card, she disappeared down a nearby alley and was never seen again. The Empire was known as a 'comic graveyard' - rather unfortunately given the above points - because of the partisan reception of the audiences of the time [1]. This is not the case in these more enlightened, modern times. Nowadays, the theatre regularly plays host to large-scale musicals, dance showcases, ballet, opera, amateur productions and one-night shows. Sid James Sid James (8 May 1913–26 April 1976) was a film and television actor. ... Acute myocardial infarction (AMI or MI), more commonly known as a heart attack, is a disease state that occurs when the blood supply to a part of the heart is interrupted. ... The Mating Season is a 1951 film with Thelma Ritter. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Les Dawson (2 February 1934, Collyhurst, Manchester - 10 June 1993) was a popular English comedian, known for his deadpan style. ... Ivor Novello David Ivor Davies (January 15, 1893 – March 6, 1951), better known as Ivor Novello, was a Welsh composer, singer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the early 20th century. ... The Dancing Years was one of the most popular musicals by Ivor Novello. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ...

The theatre was the regular venue for the University of Sunderland's graduation ceremonies until the theatre's refurbishment in 2004. Since this time, the graduation ceremonies have been held at the Sunderland AFC Stadium of Light. St Peters Campus The University of Sunderland is located in the City of Sunderland in North East England. ... Academic procession during the University of Canterbury graduation ceremony. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sunderland Association Football Club (Sunderland AFC or SAFC) is a professional football club, based at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, North-East England. ... The Stadium of Light is a football stadium, in Sunderland, North East England which opened in 1997, the 49,000-seater stadium is the home of Sunderland A.F.C. It is the fourth biggest club football stadium in England. ...

Birmingham Royal Ballet frequently visits the Sunderland Empire, and BRB considers the theatre as its base in the North East of England. Banner advertising the Birmingham Royal Ballet at the Hippodrome The Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) is one of the UKs foremost ballet companies, based at the Birmingham Hippodrome theatre in Birmingham, where it enjoys custom-buit facilities such as the Jerwood Centre for the Prevention and Treatment of Dance Injuries...

2004 refurbishment and subsequent shows

Following a nine month closure for a £4.5m redevelopment project to enable it to stage West End shows, the theatre reopened on 9 December 2004 with a performance of Starlight Express. This refurbishment involved expanding the stage and the height of the fly tower. The refurbishment also allowed a new production of Miss Saigon to be staged at Sunderland in early 2005. On 9 December 2005, the Sunderland Empire staged a preview performance of the first ever touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, starring Tim Flavin and Robin Askwith. The official European premiere of this production took place here on the following Tuesday, 13 December. On 2nd May 2006, a new touring production of My Fair Lady began its run, starring Christopher Cazenove and Amy Nuttall. West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland. Along with New Yorks Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Broadway Logo, 1987 Starlight Express is a contemporary rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) and by Richard Stilgoe (lyrics), with later revisions by Don Black (lyrics) and David Yazbek (music and lyrics). ... A fly tower is a part of a theatre above the stage where flat scenery in the form of gauzes, cloths and flats are stored and flown in when needed. ... Miss Saigon is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, with lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1964). ... Robin Askwith (born October 12, 1950 in Southport, England) is a British film actor, most famous for his role as Timmy Lea in the sex comedies. ... December 13 is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... My Fair Lady is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, based on George Bernard Shaws Pygmalion. ... Christopher Cazenove (born December 17, 1945) is a British cinema, television and stage actor. ... Amy Nuttall in Celebrity Shark Bait Amy Nuttall (born June 7, 1982 in Bolton) is a British Actress and Singer most notable for playing the role of Chloe Atkinson in the long-running ITV soap opera Emmerdale from 2000 to 2005. ...

Scrooge: The Musical played at the Sunderland Empire over the 2006 Christmas period, starring comedian and television personality Michael Barrymore in the title role. Late 2007 sees the reappearance of Tommy Steele, this time in his starring role of Dr Dolittle in the musical of the same name. Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Michael Ciaran Parker (born May 4, 1952 in Bermondsey, London), is an English comedian, actor, and entertainer better known by his stage name Michael Barrymore. ...

Forthcoming shows include Godspell and South Pacific Godspell is a 1970 play by John-Michael Tebelak. ... The South Pacific is an area in the southern Pacific Ocean. ...

Live Nation Stage Experience

As part of their Education and Outreach scheme, the Sunderland Empire in conjunction with Live Nation Stage Experience presented a production of Thoroughly Modern Millie in August 2006. Live Nation Stage Experience is an opportunity for 9-25 year olds to star in a professionally produced show. Over 140 young people attended the summer school, and managed to present the show from scratch in under two weeks. This article is about the 1967 film. ...

Due to the success of this project, another Stage Experience, We Will Rock You, was produced in August 2007, and in August 2008, a production of West Side Story will be produced as the stage experience production. We Will Rock You is a jukebox musical, based on the songs of Queen and named after their hit single of the same name. ... For The Games song, see Westside Story (song). ...

External links

• OFFICIAL WEBSITE
• Tyne and Wear Partnership Sunderland Empire reopens with Starlight Express
• City of Sunderland Fact Sheet in PDF
• bbc.co.uk - 360° views - Empire Theatre, Sunderland showing the stage set up for Starlight Express