First look inside Sunderland's new Auditorium as venue director is appointed

The interior of the new venue, which is being built on a former car park next to The Fire Station, is now taking shape.

The Auditorium is part of the wider Fire Station development, supported by Sunderland City Council, Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which has transformed an Edwardian fire station in High Street West into an artistic and cultural hub, housing The Engine Room bar and bistro, drama studio, dance studio and a heritage exhibition space.

Last month it was announced the venue had been granted £1.38m from the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund to help reduce the impact of Covid.

Designed with a capacity of 450 people seated or 800 standing, The Auditorium lies between the size of the neighbouring 2,000-seater Empire and smaller music venues such as Independent and is a mid-size venue that should stamp Sunderland on the touring circuit route for a host of gigs and other performances. It will also have an outdoor space for socially-distanced performances.

The wider Fire Station development has also welcomed a new venue director, Tamsin Austin.

Currently head of contemporary music at Sage in Gateshead, Tamsin was a founding member of the senior management team at Sage where she led on contemporary music for 17 years. She contributed significantly to creating the signature musical programme that established Sage as an internationally-recognised music venue.

She said: “I am delighted to have been invited to lead the team at the Fire Station at such an exciting time for culture in Sunderland. I have watched the cultural landscape unfold in Sunderland over the past few years and there is a huge amount of energy, will and purpose there.

“It is an ambitious city with deep musical roots and a rich family of musicians, cultural leaders, entrepreneurs, and audiences who are hugely invested in the new venue, which will become a new home and community hub for live music and arts in the heart of the city.”

The new venue is being delivered by Sunderland Music, Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust and will be run by Sunderland Culture.

It has been designed by award-winning architects Flanagan Lawrence, with fixtures, technology and equipment specified by international acoustic experts Idibri and is being built by Sunderland-based Brims Construction.

Tamsin added: “The Fire Station is a beautifully-designed auditorium and its flexibility will give great scope for a diverse and exciting programme of live concerts, festivals, theatre, dance and comedy, and will delight local people as well as put Sunderland on the map nationally and internationally. I’m so excited to be joining the team.”

Speaking about the Auditorium programme, which is due to open this spring, she said: “I’m already thinking about the opening programme, which will be challenging because of Covid. We’ll need flexible plans because of the uncertainty over when we’re going to be able to welcome audiences. But we will be creative and find ways to welcome artists and audiences, whatever restrictions are in place.”

Rebecca Ball, creative director at Sunderland Culture, said: “Tamsin has unrivalled experience and networks in music. We’re thrilled she’s joining us.

“The Fire Station will be a major cultural asset for everyone in the city and in Tamsin we have the right person to exploit its flexibility and ensure we have programmes to do the venue justice. This appointment, and the opening of The Fire Station is another milestone in establishing the city as a major centre for arts and culture.”

Recently, it was confirmed that the National Lottery through Arts Council England had given MAC Trust, in partnership with Sunderland Culture, a grant of £149,368 towards Fire Starters, an exciting pre-opening programme for The Fire Station. Tamsin’s appointment has also been supported via this grant, which will fund performances across Wearside to mark the venue’s opening.

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