Sunderland Empire Sunderland

Sunderland Empire Tickets

Wicked

Defy Gravity in this magical musical that is truly spectacular!

Beauty and the Beast: The Pantomime

Join Belle and all her new friends in this rip-roaring panto!

The Rocky Horror Show

This darkly entertaining musical is back - so Let's Do the Time Warp Again!

Jurassic Live

See incredibly lifelike dinosaurs at this great day out for the entire family!

The Mousetrap

After playing for over 70 years in the West End, Agatha Christie's famous whodunnit is now on tour.

Shrek The Musical

The award-winning musical is here, with an incredible set, costumes and of course, songs!

Aladdin

The hit Disney musical is a spectacle to be seen to be believed.

Birmingham Royal Ballet - Sleeping Beauty

Cursed by a evil fairy, a princess pricks her finger and falls into a deep sleep that can only be broken by true love’s kiss.

Bonnie & Clyde

The infamous couples' story is told through incredible song and dance.

The Drifters Girl

Find out the true story of the woman behind the band The Drifters.

Awful Auntie

A fantastic new production of David Walliams’ adventure - with a big owl, a tiny ghost and a really very awful Auntie!

I Should Be So Lucky

An original musical featuring all the hits of Stock Aitken Waterman.

Strictly Come Dancing The Professionals

Join your favourite dancers from the hit show Strictly Come Dancing.

2:22 A Ghost Story

This thrilling ghost story will leave you guessing up until the final curtain!

Pretty Woman: The Musical

This adapted for stage hit, is as hilarious and heartwarming as the original!

Jesus Christ Superstar

Andrew Lloyd Webber's 70s hit is back and more electrifying than ever!

Six the Musical

The queens are back and better than ever!

The Wizard Of Oz

Direct from the West End, this hit show features additional songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

& Juliet

A journey of self discovery and fun create a pop Shakespeare mash up!

Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby

An incredible dance production by Rambert.

Dear Evan Hansen

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Oscar-winning composers for The Greatest Showman) bring their smash hit musical to UK!

Only Fools and Horses the Musical

The Trotters are back and coming to a town near you with their brand new UK tour!

What’s On at Sunderland Empire

Sunderland Empire is hosting some fantastic events over the coming year, including plenty of touring shows for children and families. These include Disney's Aladdin, flying in from February 2024; and some huge West End shows including The Wizard of Oz and Wicked

Musicals are for all ages, and The Rocky Horror Show is another one to watch in January! Tickets for this rock 'n' roll worldwide phenomenon will put a smile on anyone’s face.

We would also be remiss to not mention one of the biggest events at Sunderland Empire, the annual pantomime. Beauty and the Beast is huge fun for the whole family, so start planning your trip now!

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.

Seating Plan

Use our interactive seating plan to view 1155 seat reviews and 1079 photos of views from seat.

Sunderland Empire, Sunderland Map & Directions

Map and Directions

Whether by tube, car, train or on foot, discover essential travel information on how to get there.

Accessibility

Explore the range of features and facilities for patrons with access requirements.

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.