Latest news with #SunderlandEmpire
BBC News
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sir Tim Rice picked 'beautiful, romantic' Sunderland
World-famous lyricist Sir Tim Rice is returning to theatres across the UK with a new tour. But it is a date at the Sunderland Empire that he is most looking forward to because the Oscar-winner has been a die-hard Sunderland football fan since the age of seven. Now 80, Sir Tim recalls how he went in a different direction from his schoolfriends in the Home Counties who supported local teams like Luton Town and looked down the list of clubs in the old Division One and saw the name Sunderland."What a beautiful, romantic word - conjures up images of beaches and palm trees swaying in the wind," he says. "And I thought that's it, my team's Sunderland."I found out about six weeks later that I'd picked the team the furthest away I could have done. I couldn't change at that point. "You can change everything in life but you can't change your football team, even when you're seven."He has remained loyal ever since and has been a trustee at the Foundation of Light, the club's charitable arm, for 20 years, where he tries to tie in visits with a home game at the Stadium of Light. Sir Tim says he first visited the North East when he was sent up by music industry executives in London in the 1960s to uncover hidden talent in the region."I was looking for fledgling rock stars," he says."There was a group called the Gas Board, with a singer by the name of Bryan Ferry."I did not spot that Bryan was going to be a megastar." 'Hits - and flops' Sir Tim's tour, My Life In Musicals - I Know Him So Well, which also has dates at Darlington's Hippodrome, sees him reflect on his illustrious career in musical include numbers from stage shows including Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Chess, plus the Disney productions The Lion King, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast."The band play the hits - and some flops - and I just talk through my good fortune in my career," he says."I chat about how the songs got written. I talk about the people I've written with - because I only do the words. "I've written with some great composers - Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Alan Menken, Bjorn and Benny, Mike Batt, John Barry - and I reveal what they're like to work with." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Independent
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Dolly Parton-themed musical plagued by people shouting homophobic slurs
A touring Dolly Parton-themed musical has been plagued by audience members shouting homophobic slurs, a star of the show has said. Actor Steven Webb, who plays Kevin in the musical comedy Here You Come Again, said a performance at Opera House Manchester on Wednesday was stopped 'for 15 or 20 minutes' because of a woman shouting, who he said was 'disgusted' to see 'a gay character on stage'. An audience member in another show was ejected for 'shouting out slurs', according to Webb. A spokesperson for the venue said it took a 'zero-tolerance policy to bullying, harassment, or any form of abusive behaviour towards our cast, crew, or staff'. Producers of the musical said individuals who made homophobic comments 'have been – and will be – ejected from the theatre immediately'. Webb said in a video on TikTok: 'The amount of audience members we have had to eject from our show due to homophobia is insane. It is insane. 'Just this week, in Manchester alone, last night (Friday February 7), we had to eject someone who was shouting out slurs. It's crazy. It's happening nearly every single week, and it just blows my mind Actor Steven Webb 'On Wednesday (February 5), we had to stop the whole show, we had to do an entire show stop, leave the stage, because a woman was so disgusted that there was a gay character on stage. 'And she was shouting out, and then all the audience started shouting at her, and there's a massive sort of ruckus. 'And so she eventually was ejected, and we could start again, but we were stopped for 15 or 20 minutes. 'It's crazy. It's happening nearly every single week, and it just blows my mind.' He added: 'London was the worst, which is crazy to me, I remember one guy who was shouting the F slur.' A spokesperson for the Palace Theatre And Opera House said: 'Our theatre team is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for everyone – both on and off the stage. 'Whilst these incidents are rare, we have a zero-tolerance policy to bullying, harassment, or any form of abusive behaviour towards our cast, crew, or staff. 'Anyone engaging in such conduct will be removed from the venue immediately. Thank you to all our theatre goers who continue to act with respect and kindness towards others.' We stand against all forms of prejudice and are extremely proud of the inclusivity and respect which Here You Come Again celebrates Producers of Here You Come Again In a social media post, the producers of Here You Come Again said they 'condemn' the 'homophobic comments and abuse directed at our company' in 'the strongest way'. 'We stand against all forms of prejudice and are extremely proud of the inclusivity and respect which Here You Come Again celebrates', the post added. The musical played in Manchester between February 4-8 and will be staged in London later this month after a stint at Sunderland Empire. The show contains hit songs including Jolene, 9 to 5, Islands In The Stream, I Will Always Love You and Here You Come Again.
