Sunderland Empire Theatre

Sunderland Empire Theatre is a major performing-arts venue on High Street West in Sunderland, in North East England. Opened on 1 July 1907 as the Empire Palace, it was established by theatre proprietor Richard Thornton after the end of his partnership with theatre magnate Edward Moss. Variety and vaudeville performer Vesta Tilley opened the venue, having laid its foundation stone in September 1906. The theatre was designed as a large-scale entertainment house and became one of the most important venues in the region for touring variety shows. The building is distinguished by its tall tower and dome, historically topped by a revolving sphere carrying a figure of Terpsichore, the Greek muse associated with dance and choral song. The original external figures were removed during the Second World War as a precaution after a nearby bomb blast affected the building. The original statue is now displayed at the top of the main staircase, while a replica occupies the dome. The tower and dome have subsequently been equipped with modern LED and floodlighting systems. During the first decades of its operation, the Empire benefited from the popularity of touring variety and maintained a strong reputation through the 1920s. As theatre touring changed and cinema became increasingly influential, a projection box was installed in 1930, allowing the venue to show films as well as stage performances. The theatre continued to attract large audiences during the 1940s and early 1950s, but closed in May 1959 amid the growing competition from television and cinemas. Sunderland Council acquired the building, enabling it to reopen in 1960. The venue has hosted many significant performers and productions. Tommy Steele made his stage debut there in 1956, and The Beatles appeared at the Empire during their first United Kingdom national tour. Actress Helen Mirren also made her stage debut at the theatre. The venue has retained a strong association with comedy and variety, including stories about the death of actor Sid James after he suffered a heart attack during a performance in 1976. Local theatre folklore also includes ghost stories connected with James and former performers or staff, although these are part of the venue's popular mythology rather than documented operating history. A major nine-month redevelopment closed the theatre in 2004. The £4.5 million project enlarged the stage and increased the height of the fly tower, allowing the venue to receive technically demanding West End and large-scale touring productions. The refurbished theatre reopened on 9 December 2004 with Starlight Express, followed in early 2005 by a production of Miss Saigon. It later hosted the first touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, whose European premiere took place at the Empire in December 2005, as well as touring productions of My Fair Lady, Scrooge: The Musical and other major shows. Today, Sunderland Empire functions principally as a receiving house for national touring productions. Its programme includes large musicals, opera, ballet, dance, drama, comedy, pantomime, amateur productions and one-night events. Productions staged there have included Wicked, Matilda the Musical, War Horse and Miss Saigon. Its capacity is approximately 1,860 seated, increasing to around 2,200 when standing capacity is used. The auditorium retains four tiers—Orchestra Stalls, Dress Circle, Upper Circle and Gallery—along with private boxes and proscenium boxes. Birmingham Royal Ballet frequently visits and regards the theatre as its North East base. Ownership rests with City of Sunderland Council, while Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd operates the venue for Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust.

The venue began as the Empire Palace, an independently established theatre created by Richard Thornton after his partnership with Edward Moss ended. Its foundation stone was laid by Vesta Tilley on 29 September 1906, and Tilley opened the completed theatre on 1 July 1907. From its first years, the building was intended for large touring variety and vaudeville programmes. Its scale and auditorium layout helped it become a prominent entertainment venue in Sunderland and one of the leading theatres in the North East. The original architectural scheme included a 90-foot tower crowned by a dome and a revolving sphere carrying a statue of Terpsichore. During the Second World War, the external statues were removed as a safety measure after a bomb landed nearby and shook the building. The original statue survives inside the theatre, while a replica has been returned to the dome. Modern lighting has since been installed on the tower and dome, giving the building a distinctive illuminated appearance at night. The Empire prospered during the high period of touring variety, particularly through the 1920s. The decline of some forms of touring theatre and the rise of cinema led to a projection box being added in 1930, allowing the building to operate partly as a cinema. Although it still drew substantial audiences in the 1940s and early 1950s, changing leisure habits and competition from television contributed to its closure in May 1959. Sunderland Council purchased the theatre, and it reopened in 1960. The theatre's performance history includes appearances by Tommy Steele, who made his stage debut there in 1956, and The Beatles, who performed during their first national tour of the United Kingdom. Helen Mirren is also associated with the venue through her stage debut. The building has a long connection with comic and variety performers, reflected in the local nickname “comic graveyard,” which referred to the demanding or partisan nature of some historical audiences. Actor Sid James died after suffering a heart attack during a performance of The Mating Season on 26 April 1976. Stories that his ghost remains in the dressing room, together with other backstage and front-of-house legends, have become part of the theatre's folklore. The Empire was used for University of Sunderland graduation ceremonies until a major refurbishment changed the building's capabilities. The nine-month redevelopment in 2004 cost £4.5 million and focused on increasing stage dimensions and fly-tower height so that the venue could accommodate large touring productions. It reopened on 9 December 2004 with Starlight Express. Miss Saigon followed in early 2005, and the theatre then received touring versions of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, My Fair Lady and other major musicals. The European premiere of the touring Chitty Chitty Bang Bang production took place at the Empire in December 2005. The venue's centenary year in 2007 featured a broad selection of major productions, including The Producers, Footloose, South Pacific and Cinderella. In its current role, Sunderland Empire is a regional receiving house for productions whose scale can exceed the facilities of some nearby theatres. Its programme encompasses musicals, opera, ballet, dance, drama, comedy, pantomime, amateur theatre and one-night engagements. Birmingham Royal Ballet visits frequently and treats the Empire as its North East base. The theatre is owned by City of Sunderland Council and operated by Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd on behalf of Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust. Its four-tier auditorium, approximately 1,860-seat capacity and enlarged stage remain central to its regional position.

• 2007

  Centenary year

  [1]Sunderland Empire Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The Empire celebrated its 100th anniversary with a programme of major musicals and pantomime.

• 2005

  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang touring premiere

  [1]Sunderland Empire Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre presented the first touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, including its official European premiere.

• 2004

  Major redevelopment completed

  [1]Sunderland Empire Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A nine-month £4.5 million redevelopment enlarged the stage and raised the fly tower to accommodate large touring shows.

• 1976

  Death of Sid James after performance

  [1]Sunderland Empire Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Actor Sid James suffered a heart attack during The Mating Season and died while being taken to hospital.

• 1960

  Council-backed reopening

  [1]Sunderland Empire Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  After Sunderland Council acquired the building, the theatre reopened.

• 1959

  Theatre closes

  [1]Sunderland Empire Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The venue closed in May amid increasing competition from television and cinemas.

• 1956

  Tommy Steele makes stage debut

  [1]Sunderland Empire Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Tommy Steele made his stage debut at the Empire in a variety show.

• 1930

  Cinema capability added

  [1]Sunderland Empire Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A projection box was installed, enabling the theatre to present motion pictures alongside live entertainment.

• 1907

  Empire Palace opens

  [1]Sunderland Empire Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The venue opened on 1 July with Vesta Tilley, beginning its life as a major Sunderland variety theatre.

• 1906

  Foundation stone laid

  [1]Sunderland Empire Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Vesta Tilley laid the foundation stone for the theatre that would open as the Empire Palace.

A historic regional receiving house with the scale and technical infrastructure to host major West End and national touring productions in North East England.

• Musical theatre

  Large-scale touring musicals

  The Empire's principal commercial offering is a programme of national touring musicals. The 2004 redevelopment expanded the stage and fly tower specifically to support technically demanding productions, including Starlight Express, Miss Saigon, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, My Fair Lady, Wicked and Matilda the Musical.

• Performing arts

  Opera, ballet and dance

  The theatre presents touring opera, ballet and dance productions. Birmingham Royal Ballet visits regularly and considers Sunderland Empire its North East base, giving the venue an important role beyond commercial musical theatre.

• Live performance

  Drama, comedy and variety

  Drama, comedy, variety and one-night engagements continue the programming traditions established when the venue opened as a variety theatre in 1907. The building has historically hosted prominent performers and remains configured for large audiences across multiple auditorium levels.

• Theatre production

  Pantomime and community productions

  Seasonal pantomime, amateur productions and dance showcases form part of the theatre's broad regional programme. The venue combines major touring work with performances that serve local audiences and community participants.

• 2004

  Redevelop for large touring productionsStrategy

  Background

  The existing stage infrastructure limited the theatre's ability to receive major West End touring shows.

  Action taken

  A nine-month redevelopment expanded the stage and increased the height of the fly tower.

  Aftermath

  The refurbished theatre reopened with Starlight Express and subsequently received productions such as Miss Saigon, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Wicked, Matilda the Musical and War Horse.

  Redevelopment cost. £4.5 million (2004 redevelopment)

  Source

• 1930

  Add cinema capabilityStrategy

  Background

  The decline of touring theatre and the growing popularity of motion pictures created pressure for traditional variety venues to diversify.

  Action taken

  A projection box was added so the theatre could show films as well as stage performances.

  Aftermath

  The building operated with both live entertainment and cinema capability, although it later closed in 1959 amid broader competition from television and cinemas.

  Source

1. 1Sunderland Empire Theatreen.wikipedia.org