Sunderland Empire spotlight shines for first time in seven months for livestream show

All shows at the Empire have been cancelled until at least January due to the pandemic, which has had a devastating effect on the arts industry.

However, the spotlights were switched on for the first time since March for a show which was livestreamed to 3,000 city schoolchildren.

Sunderland Music Hub presented Strange Creatures in partnership with MishMash Productions, a lively show aimed at youngster aged 4-7 with help from Sunderland-based Motorhouse Studios who streamed the show.

The show was shared with primary schools across the city, with around 3,000 students from across 70 schools tuning in from their classrooms, with some self-isolating students watching from home.

Inspired by Alexis Deacon’s popular book Beegu, Strange Creatures follows three companions as they play games, have fun and experience the ups and downs of friendship. It’s told through magical, theatrical chamber music; including works by Mozart, Shostakovich and Judith Weir.

Schools also received an activity pack linked with the show for them to continue the work in the classroom after watching.

Lizzie Nixon, manager of Sunderland Music Hub said: “It’s really important to us to find new and innovative ways to bring live music to children and young people in the city during this period of coronavirus restrictions; not only for educational reasons but because we know that music has an incredibly positive impact on mental health and wellbeing.

"We’ve worked with MishMash for three years and in this time the partnership has brought performances into school halls across Sunderland

with hundreds of children having the experience to see, experience and explore different instruments and sounds.

"Sunderland Empire is such an iconic venue and I think having the Empire’s stage live streamed into classrooms makes the experience

even more special.”

Anthony Hope, Creative Learning & Community Partnerships Manager at Sunderland Empire said, “We’re thrilled to be working alongside Sunderland Music Hub and MishMash Productions, to bring this fantastic live streamed performance to primary schools across the city. It’s brilliant that we have been able to find innovative and exciting ways to continue to bring the joy of live performance to our schools.”

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