Sunderland Empire Set for Roaring New Season
Sunderland Empire is
delighted to announce that the all new Season Guide for Autumn 2014 is now
available with an electric mix of show stopping productions guaranteed to
entertain and excite the region this season.
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| Rock of Ages Photo: Manuel Harlan |
Sunderland
Empire really does have something for everyone this season with spectacular West End productions set to take the theatre by storm through to
breathtaking ballet, opera, dance, comedy and tremendous one night tributes.
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| Rock of Ages Photo: Manuel Harlan |
It’s now ‘The Final Countdown’ until the
award-winning smash hit Rock Of Ages: The Musical rocks the Sunderland Empire stage for one
week only from 28 July – 2 August starring Ben Richards and Noel Sullivan. Following
a three-year run in London’s West End, Rock Of Ages: The Musical
is the ultimate rock mix-tape musical, an hilarious story of dreams, love and -
of course - rock. Featuring memorable tunes such as ‘We Built This City’, ‘The
Final Countdown’, ‘I Wanna Know What Love Is’ and ‘Don’t Stop Believin’, the
show brings its wild celebration of Los Angeles rock culture to the UK.
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| The Lion King Photo: Deen Van Meer |
The award-winning production of Disney’s
The Lion King will play
the Sunderland Empire for seven weeks (18 September – 1 November) as part of the show's record-breaking tour of the UK and Ireland, giving audiences the opportunity to experience
the global phenomenon in their local theatre. Disney’s The Lion King is based on the beloved Academy
award-winning animated film which was entrusted to Director and Co-Designer
Julie Taymor to adapt the film for the stage. Taymor brought a vast array of
disciplines to The Lion King which draws upon her immeasurable
experience of various theatrical styles and cultures to tell the compelling
tale of Simba, the young lion cub, as he journeys through life and struggles to
accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destined role of King.
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| Beauty and the Beast Photo: Bill Cooper |
Birmingham Royal Ballet is set to return to its home in the North East with Beauty
and the Beast (6-8 November). This towering gothic fairytale is another
amazing production from the creator of Birmingham Royal Ballet's smash-hit Cinderella. A beautiful girl, a hideous beast, a golden
ballroom full of animals, two outrageously haughty sisters and a grumpy
grandmother worthy of Roald Dahl, dance, prance and rage through the unfolding
pages of Philip Prowse's stunning storybook set of forests and castles, whilst David Bintley's rich choreographic palette
brings to life magical transformations, wild waltzes, soaring formations of
birds and a relationship between Belle and the Beast that is at first
terrifying, but ultimately serene and beautiful.
Ellen Kent Opera returns with Madama Butterfly (9 November) starring the Korean soprano Elena Dee. This award
winning opera returns with exquisite sets and includes a
spectacular Japanese garden and fabulous costumes including antique wedding
kimonos from Japan. Highlights include
the melodic Humming Chorus, the moving aria One Fine Day and the unforgettable Love
Duet.
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| Riverdance Photo: Jack Hartin |
Prepare
for an enchanting and mesmerising show as Riverdance prepares to toe-tap to
the stage for its 20th Anniversary Tour (10-15 November). Riverdance fans old and new will have the
chance to celebrate an incredible milestone for an incredible show. Twenty years after it took its first steps, a
truly phenomenal piece of theatrical entertainment is back by popular
demand.
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| The Jersey Boys Photo: Brinkhoff/Moegenburg |
The
Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical Jersey
Boys, which has been
delighting audiences in London for six years, will be touring the United
Kingdom for the first time calling in at the Sunderland Empire
(25
November – 6 December). Jersey Boys is firmly established as
one of the West End's longest running and
most popular shows and tells the remarkable true story of Frankie Valli and the
Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks.
These four boys from New Jersey became one of the most
successful bands in pop history, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of
Fame and sold 175 million records worldwide, all before they turned 30. The show is packed with their hits, including
Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got), Bye Bye Baby, Can’t Take My
Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to
You, Fallen Angel, Rag Doll and Who Loves You.
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| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs |
Prepare
to travel deep into the magical forest this festive season with the much loved
classic tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (12 December – 4 January). Get
set to say ‘Hi-de-Hi’ to
panto legend and star of stage and screen Su Pollard, alongside children’s TV
favourite Andrew Agnew (PC Plum - Balamory) and Eastenders and Dancing
on Ice star Matt Lapinskas. A special
pantomime adventure is promised deep into the magical forest this festive
season - with exquisite costumes and enchanting sets, hilarious jokes, song and
dance and lots of audience participation, and not forgetting poisoned apples, a
Magic Mirror and the most fabulous Seven Dwarfs you've ever seen, it’s too
tempting not to!
For
one night only enjoy the new hit musical Bugle Boy (21 August) which traces
the life of Glenn Miller. Celebrate 15 fantastic years with Beyond
the Barricade (6 September) as the sensational show re-creates original
West End/Broadway musical hit songs. Or why not join the funniest farce in the
forest with Ha Ha Hood (16 November) starring Su Pollard and Cannon and
Ball. Join West End leading ladies Kerry Ellis, Joanna Ampil and Ria Jones as they join forces with West End Women (17
November) to celebrate the best loved musicals from the past 40 years. Multi
Award Winning Comedy Stones in his Pockets (18 November)
is a hilarious and moving tale of a quiet Irish community turned upside down by
the arrival of a Hollywood movie shoot. Vampires Rock (20 November) will be
here with their 11th year and final chapter of this classic Rock ‘n’
Roll spectacular.
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| Dirty Dancing Photo: Chris Nash |
Looking
into 2015, the New Year will see a glorious celebration of British comedy with The
National Theatre’s award-winning comedy One
Man, Two Guvnors (19-24 January). Then get ready for the time of your life
when the record-breaking sensation Dirty Dancing (27 January – 14
February) returns to Sunderland
following a phenomenal run in 2012. There will
be sparkle and glitz with the sensational new dance show from Vincent Simone
and Flavia Cacace - Dance ‘Til Dawn (17-21 February).
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| Wicked Photo: Matt Crockett |
The sensational new smash hit, The
Full Monty (23-28 February) will be heading to Sunderland direct from London’s West
End. The global
phenomenon, Wicked is then set to fly into Sunderland to cast its magical spell over the region for a limited
engagement from 31 March – 25 April.
With
such a line up this really is a season not to be
missed for more information on what’s coming up at Sunderland Empire go to www.atgtickets.com/sunderland
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