The story of the Sunderland Empire - we take a look at its glories, celebrities and disasters as we mark a year since our beloved theatre hosted its last show

March 14 marks exactly one year since the last performance at the finest theatre in northern England. Here we take at look at its glorious history.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The Sunderland Empire is magnificent. It’s one of the finest venues of its type you’ll ever sit in. The region, let alone the city it stands in, is lucky to have it.

London has larger and more famous theatres. But none of them better this beautiful specimen of ornate Edwardian architecture. Anyone who has sat in both the Empire and the London Palladium can confirm this.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

While the building itself is only part of the story, over the last 114 years it has provided an appropriately grand venue for some of the biggest names in the history of entertainment.

The main entrance to the theatre has barely changed since 1907. Picture by Stu Norton.The main entrance to the theatre has barely changed since 1907. Picture by Stu Norton.
The main entrance to the theatre has barely changed since 1907. Picture by Stu Norton.

These include The Beatles, Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, WC Fields, Helen Mirren, Marlene Dietrich, Billy Connolly, Mickey Rooney, Morecambe and Wise, Rudolf Nureyev – and Bobby Thompson.

These legends, for a change the description seems appropriate, each provide a piece of the theatre’s story, which could be the subject for an entire book; as indeed it has been.

Here instead is an all-too brief history of the Sunderland Empire Theatre.

Infancy and architecture

Appearances at the Sunderland Empire by The Beatles, Rudolf Nureyev and Sid James all created a stir for very different reasons.Appearances at the Sunderland Empire by The Beatles, Rudolf Nureyev and Sid James all created a stir for very different reasons.
Appearances at the Sunderland Empire by The Beatles, Rudolf Nureyev and Sid James all created a stir for very different reasons.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

What was originally called the Empire Palace was the product of a 1900s partnership between Richard Thornton and Edward Moss. Thornton is the more significant of the two in the story.

He was originally from South Shields and had been a busker on the sea front at Marsden, before becoming a successful theatre impresario. He enlisted architects William and TR Milburn of 20 Fawcett Street, with spectacular results. The total cost of the theatre was about £31,000.

The foundation stone was laid by 42 year-old music hall star Vesta Tilley on September 29, 1906. She was top of the bill when the theatre opened on July 1, 1907 when, according to the next day’s Echo, she “excited tremendous enthusiasm.”

Vesta’s appearance meant the theatre was starting as it meant to continue. With cinema in its infancy and television way in the future, she was as big a name as any in show business.

The foundation stone, laid by Vesta Tilley in 1906, is on the east side of the theatre, s few yards from the Dun Cow pub.The foundation stone, laid by Vesta Tilley in 1906, is on the east side of the theatre, s few yards from the Dun Cow pub.
The foundation stone, laid by Vesta Tilley in 1906, is on the east side of the theatre, s few yards from the Dun Cow pub.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Empire’s auditorium was built with four tiers: stalls, dress circle, upper circle and gallery – the ‘gods’.

The domed tower above the main entrance we see today was originally topped by a revolving globe with the figure of Terpischore, the Greek goddess of dance, surmounting it.

In May 1943 a German bomb rattled the building, although it didn’t directly strike. As a precaution, Terpsichore and the globe she pranced upon on were removed and now stand at the head of the main staircase.

The replica which replaced her was itself crudely un-perched in peacetime; a casualty of high winds in 2015.

These young fans were determined not to miss out on tickets to see Kate Bush in 1979.These young fans were determined not to miss out on tickets to see Kate Bush in 1979.
These young fans were determined not to miss out on tickets to see Kate Bush in 1979.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The theatre had a capacity approaching 3,000. Today, in a more safety-conscious age, it has 1,869 seats, although additional standing has occasionally been permitted.

It was built high, but the steep seating decks make it quite compact. The closeness almost hits performers in the face the first time they take to the stage.

Early stars and the ‘comedian’s graveyard’

Apart from Vesta Tilley, popular turns of the early days included male impersonator (as was Vesta) Hetty King, Scottish singer Harry Lauder and Wee Georgie Wood.

In the days of variety, the Empire soon earned a reputation as a “comedian’s graveyard” later amended to “the comic’s Dunkirk”, although there is no record of anyone being pelted with the traditional rotten tomatoes. Actually arriving at the theatre with pocketfuls of rancid fruit would suggest a certain prejudice.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Still, there were comedy stars who did well, such as George Formby, Gracie Fields and Sid Field. Much later in 1988, according to Victoria Wood’s authorised biography, she loved the Empire and noted “extremely nice kind audience – a good feeling” (whereas Newcastle’s City Hall was “dumpish”, while the Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry was the “worst yet”).

Sunderland rock star Dave Stewart was delighted to return to the Empire Theatre in 2017. Picture by Stu Norton.Sunderland rock star Dave Stewart was delighted to return to the Empire Theatre in 2017. Picture by Stu Norton.
Sunderland rock star Dave Stewart was delighted to return to the Empire Theatre in 2017. Picture by Stu Norton.

Nevertheless, many comedians had terrible nights on a stage where the audience could smell fear. Singers, on the other hand, were usually well received.

World War Two and beyond

High unemployment and the emergence of cinemas meant tough times in the 1930s, but World War Two led to a resurgence for the Empire.

The war might have put paid to Terpsichore, but it was a very prosperous time for the theatre itself. Audiences were understandably seeking entertainment and there was no shortage of artists, including Vera Lynn, who were willing to appear.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There was also – brace yourselves – onstage nudity during the war. Under a bizarre law this was permitted, but only if those in a state of undress remained completely motionless.

However, the post-war years were grim. Not least because of the sudden popularity of television. Dance bands would play elsewhere in Sunderland. Later The Who, Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin would play in the town, but not at its principal concert venue.

A rare highlight was the 1954 appearance by Laurel and Hardy, who also enjoyed a couple of drinks in the nearby Dun Cow.

So bad was the situation that the Empire closed in 1959, but only briefly. Sunderland Corporation bought the venue for £52,000, about £1.2 million in today’s money. The theatre was saved, although it would run at a loss for many years.

The pantomimes

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A perennial mainstay of the theatre is the pantomime. It has always been one of the country’s more prestigious panto venues.

Stars over the decades have included many instantly recognisable artists, including Les Dawson, Paul Michael Glaser, Brian Blessed, Basil Brush, the Krankies, Stanley Baxter and countless others.

But the biggest panto coup came in 2007, when Mickey Rooney agreed to play Baron Hardup in Cinderella.

The 87 year-old Hollywood great had fun in the role, despite being more used to working with the likes of Judy Garland and Audrey Hepburn than Les Dennis, who appeared as Buttons.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In 2010 there was no pantomime. Instead there was a run of the musical White Christmas. Eyebrows were raised, although the producers of Sleeping Beauty at the Customs House in South Shields were mightily pleased.

The Beatles

The biggest act in the history of popular music gave three performances on Wearside. First as bottom of the bill to Helen Shapiro on February 9, 1963 at the Empire. They played the Rink Ballroom in Park Lane three months later.

Their third time was back at the Empire in November 1963, by which time Beatlemania was in full swing. According to legend (ie. it might not be true), they avoided hysterical fans afterwards by sliding down the pole in the fire station next door before escaping in a van.

Yet the Echo's teenage critic Carol Robertson remained unimpressed, criticising their strange haircuts and “similar-sounding” songs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Helen Shapiro returned in 1984 as part of a BBC show about British theatres called Halls of Fame. Hosted by Roy Hudd, it told the Empire’s story and featured turns by Frankie Vaughan, Alan Price, Jim Casey & Eli and, of course, Bobby Thompson.

Disasters

The most famous Empire tale concerns the onstage death of Carry On star Sid James in 1976. The story is well-documented. The theatre manager rang the show’s producer, Bill Robertson, to tell him that James had died in Sunderland.

Robertson replied: “Don’t worry, everybody dies in Sunderland.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A subsequent ban on rock bands was in place until Motörhead played in 1987; although Kate Bush sold out there in 1979. She would not give solo shows again for another 35 years.

Another low was the shambolic performance of Rudolf Nureyev in 1991. Fans had paid for expensive tickets. Probably the most famous ballet dancer of all time was clearly past his peak and not helped by tinny recorded music.

The public was unaware of the dancer’s illness. Two years later he died of complications from AIDS.

And now…

As time wore on things became easier for comedians at the Empire. This was mainly because unlike in the days of variety, audiences knew what comedians were like before paying to see them.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Just about every British famous comedian since the war has played there. From Ken Dodd and Bob Monkhouse, to Billy Connolly, Victoria Wood, Ben Elton, Rik Mayall & Ade Edmondson, Steve Coogan, Peter Kay, French & Saunders, Jimmy Carr, Michael McIntryre, Paul Merton, Russ Abbot, Rhod Gilbert, Chubby Brown and … everyone really.

But the biggest draw today, attracting audiences from far beyond Wearside, are the musicals. A £4.6 million refurbishment in 2004 gave the theatre the logistical means to put on major productions.

These have included The Lion King, Spamalot, Miss Saigon, The Book Of Mormon, Cats, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and a host of other Broadway hits that were not possible to stage before.

They help make the Empire one of Sunderland’s greatest assets. Getting back to the theatre is something we can all look forward to. One day.

And that’s entertainment.

Support your Echo and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on SAFC and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.

Related topics: