News: Without Walls 2025: A Bold New Chapter for Outdoor Arts – Touring to Stockton and Beyond

 Without Walls 2025: A Bold New Chapter for Outdoor Arts – Touring to Stockton and Beyond

Outdoor arts network Without Walls has lifted the curtain on its 2025 programme – and it’s shaping up to be one of its most powerful, inclusive, and creatively adventurous seasons yet. With a diverse collection of new shows spanning circus, dance, puppetry, theatre and immersive installations, this year’s lineup reaffirms the organisation’s commitment to accessible, high-quality art in public spaces.

Crucially for our region, several of these brand-new works will feature at the Stockton International Riverside Festival (1–3 September 2025), one of the UK’s most prestigious outdoor festivals and a key Without Walls partner.

🌍 Outdoor Arts with Purpose

With 79 performance days and every artist booked for at least four festivals, the 2025 season isn’t just ambitious in scale—it’s a resounding declaration of support for public creativity and connection. Ralph Kennedy, Director of Without Walls, notes, “These performances will inspire communities, spark conversations, and demonstrate the power of art to connect us.”

Here’s a deeper look at the shows set to dazzle Stockton audiences and others across the UK:

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🔧 Artizani – Hydropunk

A whimsical yet urgent interactive installation, Hydropunk invites audiences to navigate a chaotic world of valves, sprays and pipes — all designed to challenge how we think about water. With only 1,000 litres to go around, cooperation is key. Expect fun, puzzles, and a powerful environmental message. Ideal for families and thinkers alike.

📍 Touring to: Stockton, Birmingham Weekender, Brighton Festival, Norfolk & Norwich Festival.

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🤸 Levantes Dance Theatre – HUG

A living sculpture. A circus performance. A poetic exploration of human connection. HUG is all of the above. Featuring aerial dance and physical theatre set on a huge structure shaped like a giant hug, the show asks: What does it mean to connect, physically and emotionally?

📍 Touring to: Stockton, Brighton, Birmingham, Ensemble Festival.

Photo: Roswitha Chesher

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🎵 Mish Weaver – Waiting Song

Two trapeze artists suspended in a poetic moment of anticipation. Waiting Song is a lyrical circus theatre piece about hope and future joy, co-created with its audience who are invited to share what they’re waiting for. Delicate, moving, and participatory.

📍 Touring to: Stockton, Birmingham, Brighton, Ensemble Festival.

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🌿 Nandita Shankardass – Roots to Rise

Dance, poetry, and ecological storytelling meet in this celebration of ancestry and environmental activism. Roots to Rise is a meditative and empowering piece that invites audiences to reflect on their relationship with the land and with one another.

📍 Touring to: Stockton, Brighton, An Indian Summer Festival.

Photo: Pranita Choudhury

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🛞 Stopgap Dance Company – RO-TES-រទេះ

An electrifying world premiere choreographed by Nadenh Poan, a Disabled artist from Cambodia, in his first major choreographic work. RO-TES-រទេះ reimagines the wheelchair as a vehicle of joy, innovation and cultural expression. Set to infectious rhythms and fuelled by community.

📍 Touring to: Stockton, Birmingham, Norwich, Brighton.

Photo: Chris Parkes

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🐓 Theatre-Rites & Miguel Altunaga – Eshu at the Crossroads

A puppetry-meets-dance spectacle grounded in Afro-Cuban storytelling. When travellers face a decision at a mystical crossroads, they meet a magical rooster in this enchanting tale of choice and discovery. Created by Theatre-Rites and choreographer Altunaga.

📍 Touring to: Stockton, Birmingham, Brighton.

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🎪 The Bigger Picture

Since 2007, Without Walls has supported over 200 productions and toured work across 22 countries. The 2025 programme continues to support both established and emerging artists, using public spaces as stages to inspire wonder and reflection.

Backed by Arts Council England, the network spans over 30 UK festivals and continues to bring outdoor arts to communities with low engagement.

For those in the North East, the Stockton International Riverside Festival remains a vital stop on this national journey — bringing world-class creativity right to our streets, parks and plazas.

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📅 Festival Watch – Key Dates:

• Stockton International Riverside Festival: 1–3 September 2025

• Certain Blacks – Ensemble Festival (London): 26–27 July 2025

• Greenwich + Docklands International Festival: 23 August – 8 September 2025

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For more info, visit: www.withoutwalls.uk.com

Follow them on:

• Instagram: @withoutwalls.uk

• Facebook: /WithoutWallsUK

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North East audiences, take note:
2025 isn’t just a year of shows – it’s a year of shared experience, collaboration, and creative resilience. Whether you’re drawn to thought-provoking theatre or interactive installations, Without Walls and Stockton International Riverside Festival promise something extraordinary for every curious heart.

Preview: Fiddler on the Roof at Sunderland Empire

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🎻 Fiddler on the Roof Returns: Olivier-Winning Revival Comes to Sunderland This November

Fiddler on the Roof 

Sunderland Empire

Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 November 2025

The timeless magic of Fiddler on the Roof is set to take centre stage at Sunderland Empire this autumn as the Olivier Award-winning revival embarks on its much-anticipated UK and Ireland tour. Fresh from a triumphant West End run and direct from the Barbican Theatre, this acclaimed production will arrive in Sunderland for a strictly limited run from Tuesday 25 to Saturday 29 November 2025.

Beverley Klein (Yente). Photo: Marc Brenner

This revival swept the 2024 Olivier Awards with wins for Best Musical Revival, Best Set Design, and Best Sound Design, and now brings its power, poignancy, and vibrant storytelling to regional audiences for the first time in over a decade.

At the heart of this beloved musical is Tevye, the humble milkman striving to uphold Jewish traditions in the face of social change in 1905 Anatevka. As each of his five daughters challenges long-held customs with their modern views on love and marriage, Tevye must navigate the tension between honoring the past and embracing the future.

Photo: Marc Brenner

⭐ A Stellar Cast Leads the Revival

This production features a cast of exceptional West End talent. Matthew Woodyatt takes on the iconic role of Tevye, joined by Jodie Jacobs as Golde and Olivier Award nominee Beverley Klein as the spirited matchmaker Yente. The daughters are portrayed by Natasha Jules Bernard (Tzeitel), Georgia Bruce (Hodel), Hannah Bristow (Chava), Ashleigh Schuman (Shprintze), and Georgia Dixon (Bielke).

The ensemble also features Siôn Lloyd as Mordcha the innkeeper, Dan Wolff as Motel, Greg Bernstein as Perchik, and Gregor Milne as Fyedka. The role of Lazar Wolf is brought to life by Michael S. Siegel, with Mark Faith as the Rabbi and Toby Turpin as Mendel. Completing the cast are Raphael Papo (The Fiddler), Roman Lytwyniw (alternate Fiddler), and Karl Wilson as the Constable, among a host of other talented performers.

Photo: Marc Brenner

🎭 A Masterpiece Reimagined

This is not just a revival—it’s a reimagining. Directed by Jordan Fein (Oklahoma, Young Vic) and choreographed by Julia Cheng (Cabaret), with striking design by Tony Award winner Tom Scutt, the creative team behind this production infuses Fiddler on the Roof with fresh vitality while honouring its rich heritage.

Expect heart-stopping performances of timeless songs like “Tradition”, “If I Were A Rich Man”, “Matchmaker”, and “Sunrise, Sunset”—all delivered with the authenticity and emotional resonance that has made this show an enduring classic for generations.

Photo: Marc Brenner

🎟️ Don’t Miss This Rare Theatrical Event

This marks the first UK tour of Fiddler on the Roof in over 12 years, offering local audiences a rare chance to experience one of the greatest musicals ever written in a production that has been hailed as “profoundly moving” and “visually stunning” by critics.

Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the story, this celebration of family, resilience, and cultural identity promises a night of laughter, tears, and unforgettable music.

Photo: Marc Brenner

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📍 Fiddler on the Roof at Sunderland Empire

🗓️ Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 November 2025
🕰️ Running Time: Approx. 2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)
👤 Age Guidance: 12+
🎟️ Tickets: Available now at ATGTickets.com/Sunderland (Transaction fee may apply)

News: A Bold New Stage – Arts North Studios Brings West End-Level Training to the North East

 A Bold New Stage – Arts North Studios Brings West End-Level Training to the North East

🎭 Launching at The Fire Station, Sunderland – 2025

A new era in North East performing arts education is dawning in Sunderland. Arts North Studios, in collaboration with Culture Quarter and Sunderland College, is set to redefine what’s possible for young creatives dreaming of a professional career on stage or screen.

Housed in the heart of the city at the stunning Fire Station arts hub, this state-of-the-art training facility brings a fusion of elite teaching, cutting-edge resources, and meaningful local access to world-class opportunities. It's a game-changer for the region and a powerful cultural investment in the next generation of performers.

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A Vision with West End Pedigree

At the helm of Arts North Studios is Annie Guy, a celebrated West End performer, choreographer, and director, whose professional credits include Hairspray, Bonnie & Clyde, West Side Story, Joseph, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. With appearances on Sky1, CBBC, and international stages from Canada to the West End, Annie brings decades of experience and energy — and she’s returning to her North East roots with a clear mission:

“I have a huge passion for bringing top-quality West End training to young people in the North East. Arts North Studios is about building a creative home where talent is nurtured, individuality is celebrated, and dreams are within reach.”

 

The curriculum has been designed with this philosophy at its heart — pairing technical excellence with personal development, mindset training, confidence-building, and the space to develop as an artist and changemaker, not just a performer.

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Elite-Level Training, Right at Home

The facility itself is one of the most advanced in the region:

• Fully equipped dance and rehearsal studios

• Changing rooms, showers, and lockers

• Study and co-working spaces

• Access to the 550-seat auditorium at The Fire Station for rehearsals and live showcases

These resources provide a professional environment that’s on par with conservatoire-level institutions — right here in Sunderland.

This launch is the next step in a journey already marked by extraordinary success. The MTS College team, now at the core of Arts North Studios, boasts a 100% progression rate to elite drama schools such as RADA, ArtsEd, Mountview, GSA, and more. Graduates have gone on to perform in major productions including Clueless, Cabaret, and Matilda in the West End and beyond.

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A Powerhouse Creative Team

Joining Annie Guy is an exceptional team of established artists and educators:

• Lori Smedley – Renowned choreographer and North East creative leader

• Luke Maddison – Acclaimed actor with credits on Netflix, BBC, Live Theatre, Northern Stage, and The Royal Court

• Dr. Robin Harrison – Internationally recognised musical director and vocal coach

• Caren Rowe – Multi-award-winning dance educator and Carl Alan Award winner, celebrated for over 44 years of service through Lumsdale Theatre Arts

Students will also benefit from guest tutors and masterclasses led by professionals from West End, Broadway, and TV/film industries, giving them a well-rounded and industry-relevant foundation.

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Courses Designed for the Future

Launching in 2025, Arts North Studios will offer:
🎭 BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Musical Theatre
🎭 Advanced 1-Year Intensive in Musical Theatre

And in the pipeline:
🎓 BA (Hons) Degree in Musical Theatre
🎭 Future expansion into Acting for Stage and Screen and Technical Theatre

These courses are delivered in collaboration with Sunderland College, rated Ofsted Outstanding, and fuse academic discipline with real-world performance experience.

Mike Chapman, Principal at Sunderland College's Bede Campus, said:

“Arts North Studios will transform performing arts education in the North East. It empowers creative talent to thrive locally and globally. This is a changemaking collaboration, and we’re proud to be part of it.”

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The Fire Station: A Cultural Home

More than just a college, Arts North Studios becomes part of a thriving cultural hub. Its base at The Fire Station — already home to leading events, concerts, and productions — ensures students train in an environment alive with professional performance energy.

The studio’s Musical Theatre Summer Camp launches next week as the first taste of what's to come, setting the stage for what promises to be a transformative new force in the UK arts education scene.

Rhys McKinnell, CEO of Culture Quarter, summed it up:

“Arts North Studios embodies our mission — blending elite arts education with cultural investment and local opportunity. It’s the beginning of something truly special.”

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🎟️ Interested in Training with Arts North Studios?

Applications are now open for 2025 entry.
For course details, visit 👉 artsnorthstudios.com

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📍 A Stage Built for the Future

With a powerhouse faculty, world-class facilities, and a bold regional focus, Arts North Studios isn’t just launching a performing arts college — it's launching careers, building confidence, and putting the North East firmly on the national stage.

This is more than a studio. It’s a movement.

Preview: Susie Dent Word Wizardry at Darlington Hippodrome

Susie Dent Brings Word Wizardry to Darlington Hippodrome This August

📍 Darlington Hippodrome
📅 Wednesday 20 August 2025
🎟️ Tickets and info: https://www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/whats-on/Susie-Dent-Word-Perfect

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Get ready for a delightful evening of linguistic fun as Susie Dent, the beloved Queen of Dictionary Corner from Countdown and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, brings her brand new tour Word Perfect to Darlington Hippodrome on Wednesday 20 August 2025.

Following the sell-out success of her debut tour The Secret Life of Words, which captivated audiences from 2018 to 2024, Word Perfect promises an even deeper dive into the quirky, fascinating, and often hilarious world of the English language.

A Love Letter to Language

Known for her wit, warmth and encyclopaedic knowledge of etymology, Susie will take audiences on a “romp through the alleyways of our mother tongue”, unearthing the wild backstories behind everyday words, long-lost gems, and some linguistic curiosities that have shaped our lives. From the Victorian slang term "cacklefart" (egg) to "bumbershoot" (umbrella), Susie’s treasure trove of vocabulary is endlessly entertaining.

She’ll also tackle enduring debates — like whether the colour or the fruit came first for "orange", how to really pronounce “scone”, and whether names really do influence our destinies.

A Night with the Queen of Dictionary Corner

With more than three decades on Countdown, an MBE, numerous bestselling books, and her recent debut novel Guilty by Definition, Susie Dent is one of the UK’s most cherished language experts. But she’s just as passionate about reviving interest in words among all generations.

“The English language will never stop surprising and delighting me,” says Susie. “The dictionary is as full of magic, drama, and adventure as you will find anywhere.”

Expect laughter, surprises, and audience participation as Susie answers questions from the floor and invites audiences to share their own favourite — or most baffling — words.

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Whether you’re a lifelong logophile, a crossword enthusiast, or simply someone who’s curious about the weird and wonderful world of words, Word Perfect is a must-see.

Join Susie Dent in Darlington for an evening that’s equal parts educational and utterly entertaining.

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🗓️ Event Details:
Susie Dent: Word Perfect
📍 Darlington Hippodrome
📅 Wednesday 20 August 2025

🎟️ Tickets & info:  https://www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/whats-on/Susie-Dent-Word-Perfect

Preview: Our Little Hour at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Our Little Hour Returns to Newcastle for Powerful 2026 Revival Tour

Our Little Hour 

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Thursday 5 – Saturday 7 March 2026

Following its critically acclaimed, sell-out run during Black History Month 2024, Our Little Hour — the musical drama that captured audiences with the remarkable story of Walter Tull — is set to return to the stage as part of a nationwide 2026 revival tour. The production will run at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle from Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 March 2026.

Presented by Show Racism the Red Card, Our Little Hour is an emotionally charged and inspiring musical play that brings to life the extraordinary journey of Walter Tull, one of Britain’s most pioneering — yet often overlooked — historical figures.

2024 Production - Photo: Amanda Horlock

A Hero Remembered

Walter Tull broke barriers as the first Black footballer to play at the top tier of the domestic game in the UK, and later, as the first man of his heritage to be commissioned as a British Army officer. His legacy is one of courage, resilience, and dignity in the face of profound adversity.

Written by award-winning playwright Dougie Blaxland with music by renowned composer Chris Anthony, Our Little Hour was praised in its original run as:

“An intensely moving new musical drama... Highly emotionally charged and utterly compelling.”

Combining a poetic script with 16 hauntingly beautiful original songs, the production weaves together Tull’s life story — from his early years as an orphan, through his footballing career with clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton Town, to his trailblazing military service during World War I.

2024 Production - Photo: Amanda Horlock

A Lasting Legacy

Walter Tull was tragically killed in action just weeks before the end of the First World War. Though long denied the full recognition he deserved, recent years have seen his story increasingly celebrated, and Our Little Hour plays a key role in that ongoing remembrance.

Director Amanda Horlock calls the production:

“A celebration of the life of an extraordinary man whose pioneering spirit continues to inspire the campaign for justice and equality.”

Paul Kearns, Director of Operations at Show Racism the Red Card, adds:

“This powerful production helps reinforce our work by engaging new audiences in the story of Walter Tull’s contribution to British society. It tells a really important story — one that needs to be heard.”

2024 Production - Photo: Amanda Horlock

  

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🎭 Our Little Hour – 2026 Newcastle Dates

📍 Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
📅 Thursday 5 – Saturday 7 March 2026
🎟️ More info & tickets: www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/ourlittlehour

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This powerful musical promises to be one of the must-see theatre events of 2026 — not just a tribute to a trailblazing figure, but a bold and poetic statement about perseverance, injustice, and the power of storytelling.

 

Preview of Live Theatre Autumn Season

Live Theatre’s Bold Autumn Season Brings Brecht, Jimmy Nail, Sleaford Mods, and debbie tucker green to Newcastle

Live Theatre, Newcastle’s powerhouse of new writing, has announced a remarkable Autumn 2025 season that celebrates radical storytelling, political courage, and homegrown talent. Running from September through December, the season offers a packed programme of premieres, powerful revivals, music-infused theatre, and tributes to seminal voices in British drama.

From an edgy new work by ex-homeless writer gobscure to a rare musical performance by Jimmy Nail, Live Theatre continues to prove itself a unique cultural beacon — nurturing regional voices while collaborating with global artists and movements.

edgecity | 25–27 September

The season launches with edgecity, a striking and deeply personal new work from Newcastle-based writer gobscure, who brings a collection of monologues based on their lived experience of homelessness. Combining storytelling with live music, edgecity will feature texts such as mind the reality gap, die like chekhov, and yu can’t start revolutions sitting on yr arse.

Edgecity, Photo: Jack Neville

Among the performers will be Jason Williamson, frontman of post-punk band Sleaford Mods, bringing his uncompromising voice and presence to the stage. gobscure describes this production as “the biggest thing that’s ever happened to our words.”

Bad Lads (Graeae Theatre) | 2 October

Next, Live Theatre will host the opening night of Graeae Theatre’s Bad Lads, a hard-hitting new play by Mike Kenny, directed by Jenny Sealey, which exposes the horrors of the Medomsley Detention Centre in Durham. Based on survivor testimonies and years of research, this play promises to be a deeply moving, vital piece of documentary theatre.

Sealey notes:

“This is a crucial narrative. I am so pleased that Live Theatre has given Bad Lads a home — I know from experience it is a safe theatre to be in.”

Mother Courage and Her Children | 23 October – 1 November

A highlight of the season is the return of playwright Lee Hall (Billy Elliot, The Pitmen Painters) to Live Theatre with his bold new adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children. This political classic is staged by the newly formed Ensemble ’84 in collaboration with South Africa’s acclaimed Isango Ensemble, fusing song, politics, and powerful storytelling in a vibrant global production.

Hall describes the collaboration as:

“Arresting theatre with local talent about the big issues which affect us all... They are a beacon of hope for the future of theatre.”

Audiences can also join Hall on Friday 19 September for a special 25th anniversary celebration of Billy Elliot with original cast and crew.

Paulina Malefane (Mother Courage)
Photo: Keith Pattison

Big Ange | 6–22 November

Following the success of Gerry and Sewell, Jamie Eastlake returns to Live Theatre with Big Ange — the tale of a dinner lady who takes on the rise of the far right. The production promises a fierce mix of working-class heroism, dancing dinosaurs, political satire, and “an unhealthy amount of Neil Diamond.”

Eastlake, who began his journey on Live Theatre’s playwrighting course 15 years ago, says:

“It still feels surreal to call this my job... Big Ange promises chaos and unexpected political heft. I’m genuinely delighted.”

Celebrating debbie tucker green | 22–27 November

A rare treat for theatre lovers, Live Theatre will host a mini-festival celebrating the groundbreaking work of playwright and filmmaker debbie tucker green. With readings, screenings, and panel discussions, this event offers audiences the chance to explore the voice of one of Britain’s most innovative and uncompromising artists.

Artistic Director Jack McNamara said:

“Her body of work has no parallel in contemporary theatre... We’re grateful that debbie has endorsed this project and allowed us to bring her art to the North East.”

Crocodile Shoes: In Concert | 2–13 December

The year concludes on a high with a musical homecoming: Jimmy Nail returns to Live Theatre with a live preview of music from the upcoming Crocodile Shoes musical. With a live band and a deeply personal touch, Nail will perform songs from the hit 1994 TV series in an intimate setting for the first time in nearly 30 years.

Nail shared:

“I’m delighted to be returning to Live Theatre, keeping it in the family — my sister Val co-founded this place back in 1973. I’m looking forward to reacquainting myself with these songs.”

 

Also this Autumn...

• Metroland Comedy, described by Sam Fender as “F**g Brilliant!”*, return with a brand new comedy show in October.

• Families can enjoy a festive new production Where Do All The Kittiwakes Go at Christmas?, running, created in collaboration with local schoolchildren. 9–21 December

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🎟️ Booking Info:

• Friends Priority Booking opens: Tuesday 22 July, 12 noon

• General Sale: Wednesday 23 July, 12 noon

• 📍 Book online at: www.live.org.uk

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💬 Jack McNamara, Artistic Director, sums it up:

“We’re so grateful to have such a range of incredible people coming to our small but perfectly formed theatre. The desire to support new writing and collaborate across cultures is stronger than ever. Each season feels like a burst of energy — and this one might be our most powerful yet.” 

 

Preview: Friends! The Musical Parody at Sunderland Empire

Friends! The Musical Parody Brings the Laughter to Sunderland Empire This Autumn

Friends! The Musical Parody

Sunderland Empire

Monday 22 – Saturday 27 September 2025

Grab your Central Perk mugs and get ready to pivot — because the internationally acclaimed Friends! The Musical Parody is heading to Sunderland this September for a week-long run that promises non-stop laughs, ‘90s nostalgia, and outrageous fun.

Following smash-hit success in New York and Las Vegas, the musical parody of one of television’s most iconic sitcoms will embark on a major UK and Ireland tour, making a highly anticipated stop at the Sunderland Empire from 22–27 September 2025.

The One That’s a Musical

Whether you know every line from all ten seasons or just have a soft spot for smelly cats and coffee shop banter, Friends! The Musical Parody is the perfect love letter to the six inseparable twenty-somethings that defined a generation. Expect a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud comedy packed with all the iconic moments from the show, reimagined through a completely original musical score.

This is not just a singalong of the TV theme — it’s a bold and uncensored stage romp through Ross and Rachel’s will-they-won’t-they saga, Monica’s quest for control, Joey’s undying love of food (and himself), Chandler’s sarcasm, Phoebe’s musical misadventures, and everything in between.

Recommended for audiences aged 13 and up, this is an evening of comedy theatre designed to entertain both die-hard fans and casual viewers alike. If you’ve ever shouted “We were on a break!” in public, this one’s for you.

A Hit Across the Pond

Originally conceived in the US, FRIENDS! The Musical Parody was created by Bob and Tobly McSmith (also behind The Office! A Musical Parody and 90210! The Musical), with music by Assaf Gleizner. Their shows are known for their razor-sharp satire, affectionate humour, and ability to pack 10 years of pop culture into a 90-minute joyride.

This new UK tour comes under the helm of producers Mark Goucher, Matthew Gale, and Oskar Eiriksson, under license from Theatre Mogul, and marks an exciting collaboration with The Barn Theatre, known for bold new productions and audience-first programming.

Mark Goucher, one of the UK’s most respected theatrical producers, shared his excitement:

“It is great to be back supporting The Barn Theatre. We are looking forward to working with Iwan and his team creating this brand-new production which will then tour the UK and Ireland.”

Iwan Lewis, Chief Executive and Artistic Director at the Barn, added:

“As part of our 2025 strategy to attract new audiences, this show is the one that promises a night full of laughs and fun. Could we BE any more excited?”

A Night of Pure Nostalgic Escapism

Set and lighting design comes from the talented Andrew Exeter, ensuring a visual treat that captures the feel of late-‘90s New York, while poking fun at it in all the right places. Full casting and further creative team details will be announced soon — but expect energy, wit, and a deep affection for the sitcom that defined a decade.

Whether you’ve binge-watched Friends for the hundredth time or just need a dose of laughter before the colder months set in, this musical parody will have you clapping along and quoting lines before the curtain even rises.

🎟️ Essential Info:

📍 Venue: Sunderland Empire
📅 Dates: Monday 22 – Saturday 27 September 2025
⏱️ Running Time: TBC
🔞 Recommended Age: 13+ (contains strong language and adult humour)
🎭 Produced by: Mark Goucher, Matthew Gale & Oskar Eiriksson
💡 Created by: Bob & Tobly McSmith | Music: Assaf Gleizner | Design: Andrew Exeter

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💬 Could You BE Any More Excited?

FRIENDS! The Musical Parody is the ultimate night out for fans who want to relive the sitcom glory days — and for newcomers looking to understand what all the fuss is about. With catchy songs, outrageous one-liners, and a whole lot of heart, this show is there for you.

Tickets: — get yours as soon as they go on sale at the Sunderland Empire box office or online via ATG Tickets ONLINE LINK.