Sunderland Empire

The Sunderland Empire is the North East's biggest touring theatre, standing on High Street West in the centre of Sunderland. Opened in 1907 and still crowned by its landmark domed tower, it is one of only a handful of British auditoriums to keep four tiers of seating, from the Orchestra Stalls up to the Gallery. Owned by City of Sunderland Council and run by ATG Entertainment, it welcomes the large-scale musicals, ballet, opera, comedy and music tours that need a big stage, and it sits within ten minutes' walk of Sunderland station and Metro.

The theatre opened on 1 July 1907 as the Empire Palace, built independently by Richard Thornton after his partnership with the theatre magnate Edward Moss came to an end. The variety and vaudeville star Vesta Tilley laid the foundation stone on 29 September 1906 and returned to open the building. Its 90ft tower carried a dome topped by a revolving sphere and a statue of Terpsichore, the Greek Muse of dance and song.

The sphere and statue were taken down during the Second World War after a bomb fell nearby and shook the building; the original statue now stands at the top of the main staircase, with a replica on the dome. Variety carried the Empire through to the mid-1920s, and when touring declined a projection box was added in 1930 so films could be shown. Tommy Steele made his stage debut here on 5 November 1956, topping a variety bill, and returned many times. Television and cinema eventually took their toll and the theatre closed in May 1959, reopening in 1960 after Sunderland Council bought it. The Beatles played the Empire during their first UK national tour, and Helen Mirren made her stage debut in the building.

The Empire has its share of theatre legend. Sid James suffered a heart attack on stage during a performance of The Mating Season on 26 April 1976 and died on the way to hospital, and his ghost is said to linger backstage, while Vesta Tilley and Molly Moselle, a stage manager on The Dancing Years who vanished in 1949, are said to haunt the front of house. Once nicknamed a comics' graveyard for the frankness of its audiences, the theatre long ago shed that reputation.

A nine-month closure for a 4.5 million pound redevelopment brought the modern Empire into being: the stage was expanded, the fly tower raised, and the theatre reopened on 9 December 2004 with Starlight Express. The centenary followed in 2007, marked by a run of large-scale titles and the first pantomime since the refurbishment. More recently the dome and tower have been fitted with LED and floodlighting that picks out the main entrance after dark.

ATG Entertainment aims to make performances at the Empire welcoming for everyone. There is a lift serving the Stalls and Dress Circle, and the Foyer, Stalls and Dress Circle Bar are all reachable by lift, with At Seat Service available if you ask on arrival. Lift door widths are from 86cm to 88cm on all levels.

Step-free access and wheelchair spaces

• Step-free access to the Stalls and Dress Circle levels, with all Stalls seats reachable step free, plus Boxes B and C and Row J in the Dress Circle.
• Wheelchair positions in the Stalls at F38, H38, J38, L38 and M38, all on a gentle incline; the Row L and M positions suit a small standard wheelchair only.
• Boxes B and C in the Dress Circle take up to two standard wheelchairs and two companions. Box doors are 66cm wide, so wider chairs will not fit, and the box barrier is 80cm high.
• Seats held for access customers include Stalls P19-20, P20-21, H1-2 and I1-2. Aisle seats in the Stalls are recommended for wheelchair transfers; seat T19 is not suitable because of the pillar beside it.

Seating and toilets

• Average seat width is 43cm and the space between armrests is 44cm. Armrests are static in the Stalls, Dress Circle and Upper Circle; the Gallery has none. Box armrests can be swapped out with advance notice by emailing SunderlandFOH@atgentertainment.com.
• The main staircases have handrails, but there are none inside the auditorium except in the Gallery.
• Accessible toilets are on the Stalls and Dress Circle levels, both reachable by the foyer lift. They open with a radar key, and staff can provide one.

Assisted performances and services

• Audio described performances, sometimes with touch tours, are advertised on the page for each show. Stalls seats are suggested for anyone wanting a closer view.
• The venue uses the Mobile Connect hearing enhancement system, and signed performances are scheduled for selected shows.
• Sensory bags can be borrowed free of charge during your visit: just ask a member of staff.

Booking

Call the accessibility assistance line on 0333 009 5399, or via Typetalk on 1800 1 0333 009 5399. Joining the free Access Membership Scheme lets you book accessible seats online and essential companion tickets if eligible.