Friends the Musical is coming to Sunderland Empire
Written by Meena Green on 19th September 2025
Popular sitcom Friends which ended in 2004 still has a massive following of fans who regularly re-watch the show to catch up with Monica, Chandler, Ross, Rachel, Phoebe and Joey. Now audiences can enjoy a hilarious new take on the show – live on stage.
PHOTO: Friends set by Tracie Hall
Friends! The Musical Parody is coming to Sunderland Empire for the first time. Sunderland Friends fans will be able to welcome Alicia Belgarde (Monica), Daniel Parkinson (Chandler), Enzo Benvenuti (Ross), Eva Hope (Rachel), Amelia Atherton (Phoebe) and Ronnie Burden (Joey) to the Empire from 23 September – 27 September perfect to laugh and relax after coming back for the first week of University.
It’s a musical comedy, promising iconic moments from all ten seasons of the loved show. The musical first hit the stage in 2017, and now has come to the UK and will be performed at Sunderland Empire. The runtime is two hours and ten minutes (including interval) and you can buy tickets on AGA tickets starting from £15.
This production gives fans a new a way to enjoy the 90’s sitcom, from the directors of The Full Monty and producers of Hairspray, two loved productions so Friends seems to be in safe hands and guaranteed to be a hilarious show, packed with catchy songs, it naturally has an original musical score — although I am hoping Smelly Cat is included.
It will also have plenty of nostalgia. Kris Hallett from WhatsOnStage described the show as “more affectionate remix than radical re-imagining, more fan-service than satire.” There will be lots of quotes we all love and remember from when the show was on air, or the millionth re-watch. The show will be perfect for comedy theater fans and of course, fans of Friends who want to relive in the show in a brand new way.
Warning: May cause spontaneous PIVOT-ing! ((Friends fans, you know the inside joke.)
