Fawlty Towers is bringing laughter to the Sunderland Empire stage as part of its 2026 UK and Ireland tour, following its critically acclaimed West End run. Adapted from the award-winning British television comedy created by John Cleese and Connie Booth, Fawlty Towers: The Play has been adapted for the stage by Cleese himself and is […]

Matilda The Musical is set to hit the Empire stage for the second time from  11 – 28 February as it celebrates 15 years on the stage. The Royal Shakespeare Company’s beloved stage version of Roald Dahl’s children’s book, Matilda The Musical, with music and lyrics written by the brilliant Tim Minchin, will be returning […]

Richard O’Briens legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical The Rocky Horror Show visits the Sunderland Empire this week and is running from the 19th to 23rd January. The show was first seen on the London stage in 1973 and its fan base has grown massively since. It includes some iconic tracks including: Time Warp, Sweet Transvestite, […]

Newcastle-based band, The Pale White, have just announced a UK-wide tour for 2026. The venues span from Edinburgh to London, ending with a final wrap-up in Newcastle. The alt-rock band, currently consisting of brothers Adam and Jack Hope, originated in Wallsend and has been actively gigging since 2016. They have been from success to success […]

Ponteland United Reformed Church, in Darras Hall, Northumberland, has been taken over by the Malhotra Family Foundation.  The closed historic building is planned to be restored as a community centre for local residents, families and schools. Schemes include a new state-of-the-art nursery providing care before and after school, along with tearooms, where afternoon teas can […]