Sunderland Empire - Haunted History

Sunderland, Tyne and Wear

The Sunderland Empire Theatre is a large theatre venue located in High Street West in Sunderland that has been open for more than 100 years. It's said that the venue is haunted by the ghost of British comic actor, Sid James, who suffered a heart attack on stage at the venue in 1976 and died on his way to hospital. Since then it's been claimed that several other starts have refused to work in the theatre, including his Carry On co-star Barbara Windsor and comedian Les Dawson, who apparently encountered Sid's ghost two years after his death.

Other spirits that haunt the venue are the ghost of music hall star Vesta Tilley, stage manager Molly Moselle and the ghost of a violinist, who also died at the theatre.