Sunderland Empire Archives - Matinee Musicals

Romesh Ranganathan (Bill) and Sheridan Smith (Susan). Photo by Marc Brenner

First look: Sheridan Smith and Romesh Ranganathan in Alan Ayckbourn’s Woman in Mind

First look: Sheridan Smith and Romesh Ranganathan in Alan Ayckbourn’s Woman in Mind 31-12-25 First look production images have been released for Alan Ayckbourn’s Woman in Mind, starring Sheridan Smith and Romesh Ranganathan, ahead of the production’s limited UK tour following its West End run. For Matinee listeners, Sheridan Smith is a familiar and much-loved voice. A regular presence on the station and one of the most versatile performers of […]

December 31, 2025

General

First Look: Blood Brothers 2025 Tour

First Look: Blood Brothers 2025 Tour 10-09-25 New production images for Bill Kenwright’s Blood Brothers Autumn 2025 tour have been released, shot by photographer Jack Merriman. The photographs spotlight a company bringing fresh energy to one of the longest-running and most acclaimed British musicals. Vivienne Carlyle returns as Mrs Johnstone, a role that has earned her nightly standing ovations in the West End and critical acclaim on tour. Sean Jones […]

September 10, 2025

General

Tour News: Sunny Afternoon

Sunny Afternoon returns for a major UK tour 28-04-25 Sonia Friedman Productions and ATG Productions have announced the return of the Olivier Award-winning hit musical Sunny Afternoon for a major 2025/2026 UK tour. The show opens at the Manchester Palace Theatre on 10 October 2025, running until 18 October, with casting and additional dates to be revealed. Ray Davies, whose music and lyrics are at the heart of the show, […]

April 26, 2025

General

Lion King Breaks Records At The Empire

Lion King Breaks Records At The Empire 10-05-23 Disney’s The Lion King ended a record-breaking season at Sunderland Empire on Saturday 6 May having performed to over 100,000 audience members during the production’s second visit to the city. The show broke box office records for the highest single day of ticket sales at Sunderland Empire, beating its own record set back in 2014 by the first UK & Ireland tour […]

May 10, 2023

General

Wicked: Major UK Tour Announced

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPyzbFSryZg Wicked: Major UK Tour Announced 18-11-22 Wicked announces a major 10-city 2023-2025 UK & Ireland Tour. Opening at the Edinburgh Playhouse on 7 December 2023, the spectacular, multi-record-breaking and critically acclaimed touring production will then travel to Bristol, Birmingham, Bradford, Southampton, Liverpool, Dublin, Sunderland, Cardiff and Manchester, where it will conclude at the Palace Theatre for Christmas 2024/5. The West End and Broadway musical phenomenon, which tells the incredible […]

November 26, 2022

General

The Lion King Makes A Majestic Return To Sunderland In 2023

The Lion King Makes A Majestic Return To Sunderland In 2023 26-09-22 The Walt Disney Company UK and Ireland and Sunderland Empire have announced that Disney’s The Lion King will return to Sunderland Empire’s stage next spring. The show returns to Sunderland for the first time since 2014, when it enjoyed a triumphant sell out run. The internationally acclaimed production will come to Sunderland for 7 weeks from Thursday 16th […]

October 1, 2022

General

Les Mis to raise the barricades in Sunderland… for the first time

Les Mis to raise the barricades in Sunderland… for the first time Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to announce his acclaimed production of Boublil and Schönberg’s Les Misérables will play at Sunderland Empire for the very first time from Tuesday 1 November – Saturday 19 November 2022. Les Misérables will star Dean Chisnall as ‘Jean Valjean’, Nic Greenshields as ‘Javert’, Ian Hughes as ‘Thénardier’, Will Callan as ‘Marius’, Nathania Ong as ‘Eponine’, […]

February 20, 2022