Theatres · North East England
Sunderland Empire Theatre
In or near Sunderland.
Sunderland Empire Theatre in England North East, United Kingdom.
Jonathan Thacker — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 2 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Sunderland · 0.4 km
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
The Sunderland Empire Theatre is located at postcode SR1 3EX and is accessible via Sunderland railway station, which is 0.4 km away. Entry details are not provided, but note that wheelchair accessibility is limited.
About
Sunderland Empire Theatre is a cinema or movie theatre in England North East, United Kingdom, dating from 1907. Britain's listed cinemas span Edwardian picture palaces, Art Deco super-cinemas of the 1930s, and the surviving independent neighbourhood houses.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
The Sunderland Empire Theatre is a large theatre venue located in High Street West in Sunderland, North East England. The theatre, which opened in 1907, is owned by City of Sunderland Council and operated by Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd, on behalf of Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust. The theatre is one of the largest venues in the North East, with 1,860 seats and the capacity to accommodate 2,200 when all standing positions are occupied. The auditorium is also one of the few remaining in the UK to have four tiers, namely the Orchestra Stalls, the Dress Circle, the Upper Circle and the Gallery.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Official information
The Sunderland Empire Theatre is a prominent venue in Sunderland known for hosting a variety of performances, including West End shows, concerts, and community events. It plays a significant role in the local arts scene, offering a platform for both established and emerging talent.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Durham Coast SSSI
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
The Sunderland Empire Theatre is a large theatre venue located in High Street West in Sunderland, North East England. The theatre, which opened in 1907, is owned by City of Sunderland Council and operated by Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd, on behalf of Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust. The theatre is one of the largest venues in the North East, with 1,860 seats and the capacity to accommodate 2,200 when all standing positions are occupied. The auditorium is also one of the few remaining in the UK to have four tiers, namely the Orchestra Stalls, the Dress Circle, the Upper Circle and the Gallery. There are four private boxes on the Dress Circle level, as well as two proscenium boxes on the Upper Circle balcony.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The Empire Palace, as it was originally called, was established independently by Richard Thornton after his partnership with theatre magnate Edward Moss was dissolved. It was opened on 1 July 1907 by variety and vaudeville star Vesta Tilley, who had laid the foundation stone on 29 September 1906. The dome on the 90 ft tower featured a revolving sphere bearing the statue of Terpsichore, the Greek Muse of dance and choral song. These were removed during World War II for safety reasons, after a bomb which had fallen nearby rocked the building. The original statue is now located at the top of the main staircase, with a replica on the dome itself. The dome and tower have recently been refitted…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 54.9064, -1.3892
- District
- Sunderland
- Parish
- Sunderland, unparished area
- Postcode
- SR1 3EX
- Parliamentary constituency
- Sunderland Central
- Established
- 1907
- Nearest railway station
- Sunderland — 0.4 km
- Official site
- www.atgtickets.com
Sources
- wikidata: Q7639723 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Sunderland Empire Theatre (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Sunderland Empire Theatre?
- Sunderland Empire Theatre is in North-East England, United Kingdom (postcode SR1 3EX), in the parish of Sunderland, unparished area.
- What is Sunderland Empire Theatre?
- Sunderland Empire Theatre in England North East, United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Sunderland Empire Theatre?
- The nearest railway station is Sunderland, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode SR1 3EX.
- When was Sunderland Empire Theatre built?
- Built or established in 1907. Designed by Frank Matcham.
- Who owns Sunderland Empire Theatre?
- Sunderland Empire Theatre is owned by Leased by Ambassador Theatre Group<br />(City of Sunderland Council).
- Is Sunderland Empire Theatre a listed building?
- Sunderland Empire Theatre is officially recognised as Grade II* listed building listed.
- Is Sunderland Empire Theatre a protected site?
- Yes — Sunderland Empire Theatre is part of the Durham Coast SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- How do I get to Sunderland Empire Theatre?
- The nearest railway station is Sunderland, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode SR1 3EX.