The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Sunderland Empire Theatre
A highly engaging film made by two representatives of a local theatre in their battle against the powers that be in theatre bookings, and a plea for greater financial support.
From the collection of:
Overview
In the ongoing battle for survival, the proprietors of the last theatre left in Sunderland, the Empire, challenge the discrimination they have been the victims of in bookings for the big touring companies. Tyne Tees Television here provides an outlet for this historic theatre to argue its case against the theatre bookings policy of the time, and also for greater help with funding from the local authority.
This is the filmed element of an edition of the Tyne Tees Television programme 'Access', which would involve a discussion of the film. Access was one of the first television programmes to give an opportunity to local people to make their own films, with professional help. It started in 1973, the year that the innovative producer Rowan Ayers introduced the first such programme to be broadcast nationally by the BBC, Open Door. At this time the Dramatic and Lyric Theatre Association, under the Arts Council, were favouring larger venues with its bookings. The following year this became Arts Council Touring, and presumably changed its policy. Sid James died on stage at the Empire in 1976.
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