If you fancy making some diary dates, we’ve rounded up some of the biggest shows heading to the venue from those that have been announced so far.
1. The Sound of Music, February 11-15
The Sound of Music will be bringing the Empire stage alive in February. It's set to be a homecoming for Boldon Colliery-born actress Emilie Fleming who plays Maria in the national tour. Photo: Submitted
2. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, February 18-22
Britain’s Got Talent finalist, Mark McMullan, will don the Technicolor Dreamcoat in his first major musical role in Bill Kenwright’s production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s much-loved family favourite, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat when it plays Sunderland Empire from February 18-22, 2020. Photo: Submitted
3. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, March 17-21
Following a highly successful West End run in the West End and a sell-out tour in 2017/18, the Olivier, Tony and Grammy award-winning Beautiful – The Carole King Musical will hit the road again and tour throughout the UK and Ireland in 2020, with a date at Sunderland Empire from March 17-21. Photo: Submitted
4. Footloose, May 25-30
Following two critically acclaimed tours and a West End run, Footloose is back with Gareth Gates (ITV's Pop Idol, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Les Miserables, Loserville, Legally Blonde) returning as loveable cowboy Willard. The musical is based on the hit film starring Kevin Bacon. Photo: The previous Footloose tour