Sunderland Empire
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 Oswald Stoll, the Sunderland Empire theatre has undergone many changes since it opened but remains the North East’s premier entertainment venue.
Sunderland Empire exclusives
The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
Family
Wed 12 Nov - Sat 15 Nov 2025
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
The Drifters
Concert
Sun 16 Nov 2025
Sunderland Empire
From £31+ £3.95 transaction fee
Top Hat
Musicals
Tue 18 Nov - Sat 22 Nov 2025
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
Connect Theatre Company
Events
Mon 24 Nov 2025
Sunderland Empire
From £90
Fiddler on the Roof
Musicals
Tue 25 Nov - Sat 29 Nov 2025
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
Dance Fit
Events
Wed 26 Nov 2025
Sunderland Empire
From £20
Movers Ballet and Contemporary Dance
Events
Thu 27 Nov - Fri 28 Nov 2025
Sunderland Empire
From £24
Community Chorus
Events
Fri 28 Nov 2025
Sunderland Empire
From £24
Kinky Boots
Musicals
Tue 2 Dec - Sat 6 Dec 2025
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
Bright Minds Youth Theatre
Events
Mon 8 Dec 2025
Sunderland Empire
From £39
Sleeping Beauty (Pantomime)
Pantomime
Fri 12 Dec 2025 - Sun 4 Jan 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
Sunderland Empire Academy of Performing Arts
Events
Sun 14 Dec 2025
Sunderland Empire
From £117
Christmas Family Theatre Tour
Events
Sat 20 Dec - Tue 23 Dec 2025
Sunderland Empire
From £8.50
Sleeping Beauty (Pantomime) - Relaxed Performance
Pantomime
Fri 2 Jan 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
It's a Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Tribute Spectacular
Concert
Thu 8 Jan 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £29.50+ £3.95 transaction fee
The Greatest Hits of Motown - How Sweet It Is
Concert
Fri 9 Jan 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £25+ £3.95 transaction fee
The Night Sky Show
Events, Family
Sat 10 Jan 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £25+ £3.95 transaction fee
A Country Night in Nashville
Concert
Sun 18 Jan 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £27.50+ £3.95 transaction fee
The Rocky Horror Show
Musicals
Mon 19 Jan - Sat 24 Jan 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
An Evening with The Fast Show
Comedy
Wed 28 Jan 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £41+ £3.95 transaction fee
Sing-a-Long-a The Greatest Showman
Film
Thu 29 Jan 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £18+ £3.95 transaction fee
MANIA - The ABBA Tribute
Concert
Fri 30 Jan 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £27.50+ £3.95 transaction fee
Sunderland Legends
Talk
Sun 1 Feb 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £26+ £3.95 transaction fee
Fawlty Towers - The Play
Plays
Tue 3 Feb - Sat 7 Feb 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £20+ £3.95 transaction fee
Matilda The Musical
Musicals
Wed 11 Feb - Sat 28 Feb 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
Woman in Mind
Plays
Wed 4 Mar - Sat 7 Mar 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
Rob Lamberti Presents Perfectly George
Concert
Wed 11 Mar 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £34+ £3.95 transaction fee
Russell Howard - Don't Tell The Algorithm
Comedy
Sat 14 Mar 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £41+ £3.95 transaction fee
Blood Brothers
Musicals
Tue 17 Mar - Sat 21 Mar 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
Ellen Kent: The Farewell Tour - Madama Butterfly
Opera
Mon 23 Mar 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £23+ £3.95 transaction fee
Bluey's Big Play
Family
Wed 25 Mar - Sun 29 Mar 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £18.70+ £3.95 transaction fee
What's Love Got To Do With It? A Tribute To Tina Turner
Concert
Fri 27 Mar 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £23.65+ £3.95 transaction fee
Ellen Kent: The Farewell Tour - Carmen
Opera
Wed 1 Apr 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £23+ £3.95 transaction fee
One Night of Elvis - Lee Memphis King
Concert
Fri 3 Apr 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £28.50+ £3.95 transaction fee
Mean Girls
Musicals
Mon 6 Apr - Sat 11 Apr 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
Sunderland Empire Creative Learning presents 'Time Machine Turmoil'
Events
Tue 14 Apr 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £14.50
Horrible Histories - The Concert
Family
Fri 17 Apr - Sat 18 Apr 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £18+ £3.95 transaction fee
Seven Drunken Nights - The Story of the Dubliners
Concert
Tue 21 Apr 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £25+ £3.95 transaction fee
Kathleen Davis School of Dance presents We Rock
Events
Wed 22 Apr 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £26.40+ £3.95 transaction fee
Al Murray: All You Need Is Guv
Comedy
Thu 23 Apr 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £35.46+ £3.95 transaction fee
The Bodyguard
Musicals
Mon 27 Apr - Sat 2 May 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
Waitress
Musicals
Mon 4 May - Sat 9 May 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
The Choir of Man
Musicals
Tue 12 May - Sat 16 May 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals
Dance
Sun 17 May 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £41+ £3.95 transaction fee
The ELO Experience - Electric Light Orchestra
Concert
Sat 23 May 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £29.50+ £3.95 transaction fee
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Musicals
Fri 5 Jun - Sat 27 Jun 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £20+ £3.95 transaction fee
The Karate Kid The Musical
Musicals
Tue 14 Jul - Sat 18 Jul 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
Lord of the Dance: 30th Anniversary
Dance
Wed 9 Sep - Sat 12 Sep 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £16.62+ £3.95 transaction fee
Dirty Dancing
Musicals
Tue 22 Sep - Sat 26 Sep 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £20+ £3.95 transaction fee
Legally Blonde
Musicals
Tue 1 Dec - Sat 5 Dec 2026
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
Annie
Musicals
Mon 18 Jan - Sat 23 Jan 2027
Sunderland Empire
From £15+ £3.95 transaction fee
Back To The Future The Musical
Musicals
Tue 13 Apr - Sat 8 May 2027
Sunderland Empire
From £19.85+ £3.95 transaction fee
Jersey Boys
Musicals
Tue 25 May - Sat 5 Jun 2027
Sunderland Empire
From £20+ £3.95 transaction fee