High drama and dazzling entertainment

Sunderland’s Empire Theatre is a grand Edwardian venue highly acclaimed for its lavish productions of West End hits.

If you’re looking for a more art-house atmosphere you’ll find everything from thought-provoking drama to side-splitting comedy at the Customs House in South Shields.

After something a bit different?

Take your seat for a feast of new writing at Alnwick Playhouse in the historic Northumberland market town, or Newcastle’s Live Theatre in its complex of listed 16th-18th-century warehouses and almshouses on NewcastleGateshead’s Quayside.

The Live Theatre has an established tradition of promoting new work: Billy Elliot was first shown here.