Author: Lucas Ward
A rocking Shrek tribute band is bringing Ogrepalooza to Sunderland. Performing at The Point on Friday, October 9, band The Ogretones will be running through all the hit songs from the Shrek film soundtracks. Lead singer and guitarist Andy Pennick explained that the idea came to him while playing in a function band: “I was […]
The Gateshead International Film Festival (GIFF) has been announced for July 2027. The inaugural event has been conceived of by a North East based film company called ANBOC Ltd, with the programme being curated by a panel of northern and international filmmakers. One of those creatives is Steve Wraith, an actor and writer from Newcastle. […]
Celebrating 10 years since its debut on Broadway, Sara Bareilles’ Waitress is touring the UK with Durham-born Emma Lucia putting on the apron for a week of performances at Sunderland Empire. Waitress is based on a 2007 film and follows talented baker Jenna as she deals with a complicated combination of an abusive marriage, an […]
Whitney Houston is widely considered to be one of the most gifted singers in the history of the art, and at the height of her fame came the opportunity to star in a blockbuster thriller alongside Kevin Costner called The Bodyguard. Now, over the 30 years later, the stage adaptation of that movie is touring the […]
Roker Records, located on Fulwell Rd in Sunderland, has been open for little over a month and has already become a hotspot for vinyl collectors in the North East. I spoke to shop owner Iain Wakefield about opening his own shop, and turning his longstanding love for vinyl records into business. Roker Records is open […]
The festive period is well and truly upon us, and with that comes pantomime! This year sees Sleeping Beauty make an appearance at Sunderland Empire, with a cast that includes everyone from TV stars to the usual crowd favourites! When a beautiful Princess is cursed by the evil Carabosse on the eve of her 18th […]
Kinky Boots strides onto the Sunderland Empire stage from 2 to 6 December, and it is not a show to miss, thanks hugely to the electric performance from Tosh Wanogho-Maud as Lola. The production tells the story of Charlie Price (Dan Partridge), the struggling heir to a family shoe business whose fortunes are transformed when […]
November 27 was a day of firsts for me. Since moving to the city of Sunderland over the summer, I have already heard much about the blossoming live music scene, with The Fire Station always being on the tip of most tongues. Despite this, I had never found the chance to visit the venue. So […]
The long-awaited return of Stranger Things has finally arrived, but what do we need to know about Season 5? When can we watch the latest episodes? What characters are at risk? Where did Season 4 end, and what can we expect from the final season? WHEN CAN WE WATCH STRANGER THINGS SEASON FIVE? Season 4 […]
Kinky Boots, the Olivier and Tony Award-winning stage musical, is strutting its way into Sunderland Empire. With a score from pop icon Cyndi Lauper, the musical is an adaptation of the 2005 film of the same name, which is itself based on a true story. The Golden Globe-nominated film starred Chiwetel Ejiofor as Lola, with […]
