Building started on the Empire Theatre 100 years ago in autumn 1906. It became the grandest theatre in town with a 90 foot tower crowned with a dome, a revolving steel globe and, at its very top, a seven foot high statue of the Greek muse Terpsichore. The Empire was one of the very last big variety halls in Britain. The theatre was set up by Richard Thornton who hailed from South Shields - he had invented the idea of variety theatre. Thornton wanted to make that kind of entertainment respectable and refined so he built a palace, crammed with lavish opulence. The grand main entrance with its majestic staircase was for the well-to-do only, and there were separate entrances for the working classes. The inside of the auditorium was similarly impressive with a large circular dome rising above the lofty ceiling. Star studded castThe Sunderland Empire opened to the public on the July 1, 1907. The theatre was packed to the rafters with 3,000 people there to see one of the country's biggest stars of the time - Vesta Tilley, an impersonator. Down the years some very big stars were to tread the boards including Sir Harry Lauder, Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, and WC Fields. | "The grand main entrance with its majestic staircase was for the well-to-do only, and there were separate entrances for the working classes." | |
The range of entertainment was dazzling with everything from cricketing elephants and cycling saxophonists. But by the 1930s the fortunes of the Sunderland Empire began to wane due to the depression. The Empire survived because its owners closed the Gateshead and South Shields Empire theatres instead. Sunderland was heavily bombed during the 2nd World War, but the Empire thrived providing audiences an escape from the austerity of the time. All time greatsThrough the 1940s and 1950s many of the all-time greats starred at the Empire including Danny Kay, Morecambe and Wise and
Laurel and Hardy. But audiences dwindled and the Empire was forced to close in 1959. Eventually Sunderland Borough Council decided it would be an investment for the town and they put aside £52,000 to buy the theatre. During the 1960s The Beatles played at the Empire at the bottom of the bill. The World's greatest ballet dancer, Rudolph Nureyev, began his farewell tour at the Empire in 1991, but it was an unmitigated disaster. Nureyev was made a laughing stock and so was the theatre. Today the Clear Channel group is running the place and almost £5 million has been spent bringing the theatre into the 21st Century. The Empire is booming again as it celebrates its 100th birthday. | 
