The Biggest And Best Tours Coming To Sunderland In 25/26!
The West End Right On Your Doorstep!
From its shipbuilding roots to stadium-eque gigs, Sunderland knows how to put on one heck of a show! You may love the city for having one of the UK's largest urban beaches, a university that's shaping future stars, and a football heritage at the Statidum of Light that's nothing to sniff at! This North East gem is raising the curtain on a blockbuster line-up of tours hitting the city in 2025 and 2026 - check them out below.
Hamilton
17 Jun - 26 Jul
Sunderland Empire
It's the musical that bowled over Broadway, an all-out smash-hit epic that traverses the life of one Alexander Hamilton, one of America's Founding Fathers, who took on the might of the British and won! Created by Tony, Grammy, and Emmy winner wunderkind Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights) this Pulitzer and Tony-winning musical mixes classic theatre, spoken word, and hip-hop into the most acclaimed theatrical marvel since The Book of Mormon.
Chicago
4 - 9 Aug
Sunderland Empire
Start the car, I know a whoopie spot - Chicago is back! Join Roxie and her merry murderesses as they battle for fame and freedom in this satirical look at the world of celebrity and justice. Set in the roaring twenties, Chicago has everything you want from a musical, sex, murder, and good old razzle-dazzle that has you intoxicated from start to finish.
Inside No 9 - Stage Fright
16 - 20 Sep
Sunderland Empire
Get ready for a highly uncomfortable night in the theatre as horror aficionados Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton return to tread the boards in this brand-new play, taking to the road this year following sell-out success in the West End.Titled 'Inside No 9 - Stage/Fright', the new venture sees the pair marry horror, comedy and their signature surrealism to present a spine-chilling theatrical experience that'll have you laughing nervously from the start to the sure to be terrifying finale.
Mary Poppins
1 - 25 Oct
Sunderland Empire
Everyone's favourite governess returns to the stage to bring us a spoonful of sugar! Join Mary Poppins, Bert, Jane and Michael as the wonderful story of Mary Poppins comes to life on stage in this spectacular production from Cameron Mackintosh and Disney. Based on P.L. Travers cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film Mary Poppins first appeared on the London stage back in the early naughties where it ran for three years before it headed over to Broadway where it won a Tony Award for best musical and ran for almost six years!
Top Hat
18 - 22 Nov
Sunderland Empire
One of the greatest dance musicals of all time! This West End hit musical heads out on tour across the UK, bringing its effervescent old-school charm to a stage near you in 2025! Irving Berlin's Top Hat is a decadent trip down memory lane to Hollywood's golden age brimming with beautiful costumes and dazzling dance routines, set to some of the composer's most beloved songs including 'Putting on the Ritz', 'Let's Face The Music And Dance' and many more.
Kinky Boots
2 - 6 Dec
Sunderland Empire
Making dancing, twirling and somersaulting in heels look easy since it sashayed into London's Adelphi Theatre in 2013, Cindy Lauper and Harvey Fierstein's musical has taken the world by storm with its message of acceptance, a cracking pop-filled score and a dizzying amount of fabulousness. Garnering six Tony and three Olivier awards, let your hair down and step on down for this new tour starring Strictly Come Dancing sensation Johannes Radebe and Grease's Dan Partridge.
Bat Out Of Hell
18 - 23 Aug
Sunderland Empire
It's time to start revving your engines as Jim Steinman's Bat Out Of Hell heads out on a brand new UK tour! This mega-musical extravaganza is based on Meat Loaf's iconic album of the same name and features over 20 of the supergroup's hits, including, "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" and "Heaven Can Wait". Bat Out Of Hell made its West End debut in 2018, where it took London audiences by storm, now it's your turn to have a slice of the action!
2:22 - A Ghost Story
8 - 13 Sep
Sunderland Empire
The edge-of-your-seat supernatural thriller is ready to haunt the rest of the UK after scaring West End audiences silly since 2021! 2:22 - A Ghost Story is brought to you by award-winning writer and creator of hit BBC podcast The Battersea Poltergeist, Danny Robins, and directed by Matthew Dunster. Will you believe in ghosts once the clock strikes 2:22?
Sunny Afternoon
4 - 8 Nov
Sunderland Empire
This hit musical is back and ready to head out on tour, giving audiences across the UK the chance to discover the story of The Kinks - sprinkled with a little Olivier-winning musical stardust, of course! Written by Joe Penhall with music and lyrics provided by Ray Davies, Sunny Afternoon was a hit in London in 2014, where the production scooped up four 2015 Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. It's time to Come Dancing once more!
Fiddler on the Roof
24 - 29 Nov
Sunderland Empire
Beloved musical theatre classic Fiddler On The Roof smashed records when its first 1964 run on Broadway surpassed over 3000 performances, garnering a total of nine Tony Awards for its humour, warmth, honesty, and celebration of the proud Jewish tradition. The Jerome Robbins and Harold Prince penned hit enjoyed an all-new staging from director Jordan Fein (Oklahoma) as part of Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's 2024 season, now the show continues to rise the ranks as it heads across the UK on a brand-new tour!
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
11 - 15 Nov
Sunderland Empire
After thrilling London audiences back in 2020, Sally Cookson's innovative staging of C.S Lewis' seminal novel heads out on a new UK tour! A captivating production that uses ingenious stagecraft in the place of flashy effects to tell the story of four evacuee siblings who discover an enchanted realm at the back of a dusty old wardrobe and the epic adventure that awaits...
Tim Rice - My Life In Musicals
1 May
Sunderland Empire
Sir Tim Rice, the legendary lyricist whose words have shaped some of the most iconic musicals of our time, returns to the stage with the unmissable My Life In Musicals! Taking audiences on a journey through his extraordinary career, Tim shares personal stories, the creative process behind his celebrated songs and, of course, live performances of the timeless music, from some of the West End's best!
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Showing until 27 Apr
Sunderland Empire
The most fantasmagorical stage musical in the history of everything takes off on a UK Tour, bringing with it an incredible theatrical experience the whole family will love! Based on the beloved 1968 film, follow the eccentric inventor Caratacus Potts as he, his children, and Truly Scrumptious set out to outwit Baron Bombast and his terrifying child catcher!
Matilda The Musical
11 - 28 Feb 2026
Sunderland Empire
Roald Dahl's much-loved classic of an extraordinary child with magical powers has been reigning supreme at the Cambridge Theatre since 2012 and now sets out on a brand new UK tour! Combining the talents of Tim Minchin and the Royal Shakespeare Company, this extraordinary show has won seven Olivier Awards and has captured the hearts of young and old theatergoers alike, making it one of the most sought-after musicals of the last decade.
Fawlty Towers
3 - 7 Feb 2026
Sunderland Empire
Pack your bags for a trip to Fawlty Towers as Britain's most beloved '70s sitcom heads on a nationwide tour following a successful West End run (with two extensions), adapted by the show's original writer and star, John Cleese - nearly fifty years after its debut. Directed by Caroline Jay Ranger (Only Fools and Horses: The Musical), the stage adaptation brings this iconic comedy to life. First broadcast in September 1975, Fawlty Towers is widely regarded as one of the greatest British sitcoms of all time - and now you have the chance to relive the chaos on stage.
Friends! The Musical Parody
23 - 27 Sep
Sunderland Empire
Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Monica and Joey are back and their madcap adventures are taking to the stage in Friends! The Musical Parody. Enjoying a UK tour UK and Ireland tour until May 2026, the plucky musical lovingly lampoons the smash-hit TV show, adding in hilarious new songs, a good helping of 90s nostalgia and iconic moments from throughout its 10 seasons.
The Prat Pack
29 Apr
Sunderland Empire
As four heroes of light entertainment, Brian Conley, Shane Richie, Bradley Wash and Joe Pasquale have been lighting up our screens for years, charming viewers with turns in Eastenders, The Chase, I'm A Celeb and more with their cheeky chappy wit and waggish style. Now, see the quartet as never before as they join forces in 2025 as The Prat Pack! Taking to the road on a brand new UK tour inspired by the legendary Rat Pack, these four pals will be regaling audiences with a night of song, dance and banter. Backed by a 15-piece band and with Pasquale at the wheel of the tour bus, don't miss what is sure to be a hilarious and feel-good evening as The Prat Pack stumbles into a venue near you!
Queen of the Night - A Tribute to Whitney Houston
9 Nov
Sunderland Empire
Selling more records and receiving more awards than any other female singer of the 20th century, Whitney Houston and her set of powerhouse vocal pipes redefined the phrase pop diva. Celebrating her incredible musical legacy, Queen of the Night - A Tribute To Whitney Houston brings the songstress' most memorable tunes to the stage in one of the greatest tribute productions to ever hit the West End. Don't miss this fantastic show on tour this year!
Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight
6 Sep
Sunderland Empire
The music of Fleetwood Mac needs absolutely no introduction. One of the defining acts of the past century, their phenomenal impact changed the face of music globally. Join a cast of top West End singers and a stellar live band touring the UK with a special show celebrating the iconic act, performing a set of their best loved songs including "The Chain", "Little Lies", "Don't Stop" and more.
Lord Of The Dance
9 - 12 Sep 2026
Sunderland Empire
On Sale December 12, 2024Michael Flately's internationally renowned dance troupe returns in 2026 with yet another breathtaking extravaganza. Fresh costumes, choreography, brand-new technology and more will come together for yet another unforgettable show in this new tour titled 30 years of Standing Ovations. So expect a thunderous evening as theatres across the country strengthen their stages for the one and only Lord of the Dance!
