Fire Station Sunderland is a new centre for the participation and enjoyment of the performing arts. It is at the heart of the transformational £18m cultural development in the city centre, the MAC Quarter.
A new 21st century £11m auditorium extends the original 1907 Fire Station with a 21st century auditorium for the presentation of local, regional, national and international artists and giving new and emerging artistic talent a platform on which to shine.
Led by the Sunderland Music Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust, with Sunderland City Council and Sunderland Culture, and funding from Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this is probably the largest current cultural development in a post-industrial UK city centre.
Programming participation and performance events in theatre, music, comedy and dance, the new 450 -800 (seated to standing) auditorium is designed by Flanagan Lawrence, award winning architects, with fixtures, technology and equipment specified by international acoustic leaders, Idibri, planned for opening in 2021, work starts in late 2019.
The original Fire Station, which was officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2018, houses The Engine Room Bar and Restaurant, a heritage centre, and studios specially designed to accommodate creative writing and drama workshops for children and young people delivered by Live Theatre, and participatory workshops in all forms of dance from Dance City. For information about the weekly classes and courses offered by Dance City Sunderland visit the website here and for the creative writing workshops for schools visit Live Theatre’s website here. .
To contact The Fire Station Reception call 0191 594 7240 or e-mail [email protected]
