"Persistence, patience and passion are just what will drive you to achieve" Gareth Bailey and Roseanna Frascona on Dirty Dancing

It’s quite rare to find two actors that are almost identical to the characters they portray, but if that was ever the case, it would be with Roseanna Frascona and Gareth Bailey who play leads Baby and Johnny. Roseanna attended Oxford University and graduated with a degree in English, and it was there the world of acting […]
Review: Dirty Dancing @ Sunderland Empire

Dirty Dancing, the stage musical based on the 1987 film, danced its way into Sunderland this week (January 29), bringing with it the summer of 1963. The Sunderland Empire Theatre was packed, attracting a largely female audience who were on the edge of their seats for the highly anticipated musical. The storyline of a young […]
Dirty Dancing comes to Sunderland's Empire Theatre

Dirty Dancing has captivated British audiences since Baby carried the watermelons, and now the fastest selling UK stage production is dancing its way to Sunderland’s Empire Theatre. The show will run from January 27 until February 14, with the iconic heart-pounding music, forbidden romance and some pretty sexy dancing live on stage. Johnny Castle – one of […]
Sunderland Empire release list of upcoming 2015 shows

Even though the festive season is over, Sunderland Empire still has some great performances coming up to wash away those winter blues. With comedies, musicals and some great classic shows, there’s something for everyone over the next two months. I’m Sorry, I Haven’t a Clue – Thursday 8 January 2015, 7.30pm The BBC Radio 4 multi award-winning […]
The stars of Dirty Dancing teach Northern Lights a few moves

Dirty Dancing is returning to the Sunderland stage at the Empire Theatre and, to celebrate, Northern Lights were invited along to an exclusive workshop headed by the production’s Associate Choreographer, Glenn Wilkinson. Most of us are already familiar with the film – set at Kellerman’s resort in Catskill, New York during the summer of 1963, […]
The West End Of The North East – An Ode To The Sunderland Empire's Stunning Success

When the Sunderland Empire was first cautiously named the “West End of the North East”, there was a substantial camp of folk who shook their heads at the theatre’s delusions of grandeur, tutted loudly, muttered under their breath that the theatre had got too big for its boots, and poured scorn on the ambition of […]