The Sunderland Empire Theatre is a large theatre venue located in High Street West in Sunderland, North East England.
Vesta Tilley laid the foundation stone of what is now the Sunderland Empire on 29 September 1906 and took to the stage on 1 July 1907 to officially declare the theatre open.
Masterminded by two of the contemporary heads of British theatre, Edward Moss and Osward Stoll, the Sunderland Empire theatre has undergone many changes since it opened but remains the North East’s premier entertainment venue.
Upcoming events at Sunderland Empire
The Silence of the Lambs
Dr Hannibal Lecter will see you now.
The Mousetrap
Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap
Madama Butterfly – Ellen Kent’s Farewell Opera Tour
Senbla presents Ellen Kent’s Farewell Opera Tour featuring The Ukrainian Opera with international soloists, highly-praised...
Here You Come Again – The New Dolly Parton Musical
For the first time ever, all of Dolly Parton's biggest hits can be experienced together in a rollicking and joyous new musical comedy.
Seven Drunken Nights
Proudly celebrating its incredible 10th Anniversary Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of The Dubliners...
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing
Back to The Future – The Musical
Welcome to Hill Valley! Take an electrifying ride back in time as the 1985 blockbuster...
Annie
The Smash Hit West End Musical Annie
The Choir of Man
Welcome to The Choir of Man, the best pub in the world… Come ready to drink in the excitement!
Strictly The Professionals Tour 2026
Strictly The Professionals returns - bigger, bolder, and more breathtaking than ever
Waitress The Musical UK Tour
Meet Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of some happiness in her life....
A Country Night In Nashville
Recreating the energy and atmosphere of a buzzing Honky Tonk in downtown Nashville, A Country Night In Nashville takes you on a journey through the history of country music.
Horrible Histories
We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead!
The Bodyguard
The Bodyguard
Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show Tour
Legally Blonde
Legally Blonde
Al Murray: All You Need Is Guv
The Guv will be back, baby, with a brand-new stand-up show for 2026!
Mean Girls
Mean Girls the smash hit musical comedy
Fawlty Towers The Play
Nearly 50 years since it first hit our TV screens, the ‘Greatest British sitcom of all time’ (Radio Times) is now a brand-new stage play, adapted by comedy legend John Cleese and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger.
Matilda The Musical UK & Ireland Tour 2025/26
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s smash hit production of Matilda The Musical, based on Roald Dahl’s beloved book, will embark on its second major tour of the UK and Ireland in October 2025.
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