Donate to help the show go on at Empire

A campaign has been launched to help support Sunderland Empire as the arts sector becomes one of the industries hit hardest by COVID-19.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up with a target of £1,000 to go towards the Empire’s charitable arm, Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust, which is run by a small group of volunteers with supportfromSunderland Council.

Like all arts venues, the lights have been out at the theatre in High Street West since March, with no date announced for its reopening yet.

A number of major shows have already been cancelled or postponed at the Empire, including Beautiful: the Carole King Musical, Footloose, Jimmy Carr, Heathers, Derren Brown and more.

So far, £425 has been donated to the fund for the charity, which runs educational and community projects in the arts.

Zoe Hull, who’s organised the appeal on behalf of the trust, said: “At this time, due to the devastating effects of COVID-19 on the theatre industry, the trust urgently needs to raise more funds to ensure that the creative learning team, and other similar teams in the region, can continue to deliver their brilliant work once they are able to resume.

"The trust is also looking to support additional arts projects around the city right now, which help to promote its aims and objectives.

"Every penny raised will go directly to supporting arts projects in Sunderland and will help continue to grow this vital industry for our city and beyond.”