Sunderland Empire Sunderland

Sunderland Empire Tickets

Wicked

Defy Gravity in this magical musical that is truly spectacular!

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.

The 13-Storey Treehouse

Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton’s hilarious, prestigious book The 13-Storey Treehouse comes to life on stage!

& 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.

War Horse

War Horse delivers an unforgettable journey, transporting audiences from rural Devon fields to the trenches of First World War France.

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!

Jack and the Beanstalk: The Pantomime

Funny festive antics once again bringing a smile to those young and old!

Birmingham Royal Ballet's Cinderella

Enter a world of fairytale where anything can happen!

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Explore the incredible trip and extraordinary achievements of a worldwide sensation in this dynamic musical, showcasing iconic tunes.

An Inspector Calls

All is not as it seems in this thrilling classic play!

Hairspray the Musical

The swinging 60s musical Hairspray is back!

Chicago

This high concept musical features a sultry score with hits like "Razzle Dazzle" and "Cell Block Tango," winning Tony and Olivier Awards!

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 Wicked, flying in from September 2024; and some huge West End shows including War Horse and & Juliet.

Musicals are for all ages, and Pretty Woman is another one to watch! Tickets for this rom-com classic will put a smile on anyone’s face this spring. Other musicals that are perfect for teens and up include SIX in July and Dear Evan Hansen in November... or if you prefer plays to send a chill down your spine, be brave and catch 2:22: A Ghost Story in May.

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.

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.