Sunderland Empire Sunderland

Sunderland Empire Tickets

Sleeping Beauty: The Pantomime

Miss Rory and Tom Whalley star in the dreamiest panto in the North East. Don’t snooze on tickets for this family show!

The Bodyguard

A Secret Service agent falls for the woman he’s protecting in this swoon-worthy romantic musical, featuring “I Will Always Love You”.

Kinky Boots

This brand-new tour of the Olivier Award-winning musical struts into town, with music by Cyndi Lauper.

Fawlty Towers

Straight from the West End, Fawlty Towers brings the beloved TV classic to life with riotous laughter and unforgettable moments.

Matilda the Musical

The smash-hit West End musical is heading to a stage near you!

Woman in Mind

A spellbinding revival of Alan Ayckbourn's exploration of one woman’s fractured reality with heart and humour.

Blood Brothers

The captivating and moving musical returns. With it's superb score and emotional charge.

Bluey's Big Play

Bluey and Bingo really want their dad to play with them… can they convince him? Find out at this fun-filled stage show for little ones.

Mean Girls

You can’t cross a queen bee without getting stung. The award-winning musical tours direct from it's West End run.

Waitress

Treat yourself to a slice of a new tour of the award-winning musical and find the perfect recipe for happiness.

The Choir of Man

Don’t miss this feel-good night of foot-stomping entertainment!

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

A celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love!

The Karate Kid The Musical

Spectacular musical numbers and dazzlingly inventive choreography bring this timeless story to the stage.

Lord of the Dance 30th Anniversary

The 30th anniversary of Lord of the Dance promises an unforgettable evening of passion and entertainment.

Dirty Dancing

Join the millions across the globe who've seen the smash hit musical classic.

Legally Blonde

Elle Woods and Bruiser the chihuahua are hitting the road for a brand new tour of the hit, feel-good musical.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

A brand new staging of the intriguing and powerful story comes to Sunderland.

Back to the Future

Doc Brown, Marty McFly, and the iconic DeLorean land in Sunderland.

Jersey Boys

A sound the radio just couldn't get enough of returns to the stage.

The Silence of the Lambs

The world stage premiere of the gripping psychological masterpiece.

What’s On at Sunderland Empire

Sunderland Empire is hosting some fantastic events over the coming year, including plenty of touring shows direct from the West End. These include the family-friendly musical Matilda in February 2026, and West End hits like Waitress, The Choir of Man and Mean Girls. That all sounds totally fetch, right?!

We highly recommend planning ahead for the new year - mark your calendars now for some huge productions. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is going to be spectacular, spectacular in June, but we’re really excited about Sheridan Smith in Woman in Mind. You do not want to miss tickets for this: Olivier Award winner Smith stars in Alan Ayckbourn’s classic play in March, and it’s extra special for Sunderland - one of only two touring dates outside of London!

About the Sunderland Empire

Sunderland Empire, the largest theatre in the North East of England, first opened in July 1907 as the Empire Palace. It initially staged variety and music hall shows and throughout the 20th century has played host to a number of significant moments in live theatre. In 1967, Academy Award winner Helen Mirren made her stage debut at the Empire in David Halliwell’s Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs , whilst Carry On star Sid James passed away from a heart attack whilst performing in The Mating Season on 29 April 1976.

Boasting a large, traditionally decorated auditorium in a red and gold colour scheme and capacity of 2,000, Sunderland Empire was refurbished and the stage expanded in 2004. This allowed large scale West End productions to visit the venue whilst on tour. The theatre reopened with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express , and in 2005 hosted the European premiere of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’s first ever touring production.

Currently operated by Ambassador Theatre Group, Sunderland Empire regularly welcomes live music events, touring musicals, opera, ballet, dance and local amateur productions.

Map and Address

High Street West, Tyne and Wear, Sunderland, SR1 3EX

The Sunderland Empire is conveniently located in coastal Sunderland’s town centre, near the train station, shopping centre and University of Sunderland. Sunderland Minster is across the street, and there are several places to eat and drink in the theatre’s vicinity. Bishopwearmouth Green is a small park behind the Minster, with Riverside Park and the River Wear behind the theatre. The Sunderland Museum, Winter Gardens and Gallery are about 15 minutes from the theatre, which is close to a number of accessible transport links.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The box office opens for ticket collection 90 minutes before the start of the performance.

Public spaces at the theatre open up to 90 minutes before the start of a performance. The lavish bar is a good place to relax with a drink before the performance begins, but arrive early if you would like a seat.

The venue has 5 bars, located on the Foyer, Stalls and Dress Circle levels. Theatregoers can also book bespoke Ambassador Lounge packages when purchasing tickets online.

The theatre’s own pizza restaurant, Pizza Al Teatro, is open for pre-show dining. The menu includes a range of sourdough pizzas, sharing platters and desserts.

A cloakroom is available in the Ambassador Lounge. Please note that large items of luggage cannot be accepted in the cloakroom.

Aperitif Bar and Kitchen is a popular pre-theatre dining spot, with Italian favourites such as pizza and pasta served alongside small sharing plates. For fans of Indian food, Spice Empire is just across the road from Sunderland Empire and serves South Asian dishes with a modern twist.

Hilton Garden Inn is a short walk from the theatre, offering comfortable rooms, a restaurant and bar at affordable prices. For visitors on a budget, Travelodge Central is also very close to the theatre.

Customers can contact the box office team for booking enquiries by calling 0333 009 6690 or emailing sunderlandboxoffice@theambassadors.com.