One of the our vehicles everybody. Rushes 3 back back to to their feet to get where I classic comedy every day b.b.c. Radio 4 extra on b.b.c. . A.b.c. Already here for next. It's 6 o'clock and our side series the destruction factor continues in just a moment after that so we're off to the Sunderland Empire ne England's premier variety venue Geoffrey we lead takes us to another palace of laughter at 630 and Sarah Campbell holds the keys to our own comedy club this evening chill be opening up the doors at 10 o'clock. Now on Radio 4 extra apparent cases of spontaneous combustion and strange plants that germinate at an alarming rate is there a connection between the 2 and can that harmless looking piece of foliage really be the most dangerous living organism on the planet science fiction drama now from James Follett. Be. Back. Home. The destruction factor by James Follett with d.p. McKenna all Copley and wasn't Adam's. Episode 3 the wings of as rattle. 3 more going on the verge back on the money just spread so quickly that's one of the 1st things you might actually find out it's a game it's not got away Sam cover his beat told me in front of me that's all right . Pop in there long been there for my liking. That must be back. Well that's all it is but the color of Willis the engine running the nice perfect job that would have wanted to put in my day right. Here at the guy's doors unlocked me. Yes Yes Well. Look I still get things done but if they're going to look out for. Me They're going to notice they love the engines revving you . Look at the hand brakes not on. But on the bumper and. I got mine and that's it. I thought back. To. My Turn Turn the engine off but. Who is too late to call a doctor I suppose. Yes. Thank you. I'm not some helpless female needs dosing to the eyeballs with sedatives. You need my help with these papers Ok then sweetheart if you are not here something results of gamma radiation back 520 percent germination rate. Oh I've seen these before they architects plans for Complex be he should about all these company documents his home poor old scientists are screwed when it comes to papers the Osho me. Exam is that the time to total him yes oh I'd like to see that well I don't think you'd be able to only the control rooms up to the public well apart from being able to flaunt a Rose Royce in front ones colleagues one of the great advantages of coupling a Nobel Prize is that it opens doors but it can wait but I really want to see 1st of the bungalow where the 1st couple died last and with Down's and his wife if you say so my boy I need a chauffeur Oh I'll run you over there Denise is prettier than you. Yes Back off he was down there actually. Some mess I bet and is in exactly the same state. Bricks on this big identity. Why did you insist on me jogging you can't because you can't drive and drive the same time. Well cause it's Mr Joyce left remarkable. Good droppings everywhere. There's a gaping hole of that. Listen. I'm getting to know that. 7 of them. Writing to it's a. New venue with a hole like that in the roof the option these ads are giving up is diffused into the atmosphere needed to. Know the danger is in and unventilated the news enough years I think so I'll just take one of these plants along with me and I'd be grateful if you kind of take you to the general hospital. A visit to the u.n. And you my job and his young lady. I talking to no more fuss a policeman about that something I'd never been accused of before an open patient office just. To get that plugged. Odd looking thing isn't it so right. Do you have one in your room when you and your 2 friends have been no. I've told you over and over I don't know what caused that fire but you did have a potluck this in your room my thought date Now crime is it. Is your smoking or crime of your age I forget who smuggle them into you or friend of porter but never mind. You that which would have had to do with the time of the fire smoke who struck a match and. Yes. Suppose. You see the thing I can't understand is how the 3 of you managed to escape from that room with only a Burns go bad enough when it no no I didn't mean that other people who had the same thing happen to them were burnt to death by that night just some pajamas. You see. Well thank you for seeing me and I must be off now I thought you know. I'll send you a nice a one promise. That was quick yes oh by the way I am why were you when the community center tried to burn down the school dinner. Broken by I am about to back off. You know I'm puzzled by the injuries knows is that all 3 goes had just Scott and no I said that over the head of their bodies had been but. You mean they had a do I have to spell it out I'm sorry but I see what you mean they would make it at the time of the accident they just had Shasta naked. And of course. From one thing that had the bathroom. That expensive those 3 girls are still alive . And it gives me a nice day rounded theater that our police and politicians will understand. See tray $10.00 germination temperature had to be started 10 degrees centigrade and where that's only to be expected to is the same 15 degree centigrade no seats going to 15 degrees Tray 3 is the same constant 20 degrees and germination is here. $25.30 of the same. Fastest growing plant the world has ever seen and we can't persuade a few 100 of its seeds to germinate under ideal conditions. So why well I suppose it's just possible there's a genetic fault and the Exxon strain will die out doesn't happen with mutation it happens all the time in nature the whole of persons of evolution is based on survival of the fittest for every successful organism that surprise to reproduce a 1000000 fail and that His creation has failed now we don't know for certain but it will be better for the world if it has. To be x. Unstained mean an abundance of food for the 3rd world that is what my father would full of he's not I don't think I don't understand how you feel Denise but the x. One strain is a behavior that can't possibly benefit mankind your father realized that he spent his last days desperately scarring the district of the plants and left mislead destroying the many found the why do you think he did that it was because he understood the menace a couple much go on Ok so that some strain is a little desireable houseplant but doesn't make it a menace just don't bring him in don't know if he acts on strains of dives which I doubt because most were going to prosecute by frost we would have to destroy it before it destroys 'd us and by us I mean mankind. Look. Up present atmosphere contains 20 percent oxygen out plant life gives us that 20 percent. Given the right conditions rustics and discover that it might be possible for his plant to double that percentage in 5 years maybe less if it gets established in places like Central South America now have you any idea what effect a 40 percent oxygen atmosphere would have on civilization I tell you it would cease to exist. We'd have to have a world without fire which means no industrial that has sex mankind can do that certainly given a few 1000000 years we'd be lucky if we got 20 but it's not just industry old plant life will die the oxygen will destroy it the Exxon strain appears to be the only plant that is oxygen resistant. Metal structures where rest as fast as they put up rusting is just another verb deicing meat will start to rot almost as soon as it's killed you've seen contains antioxidants have you printed on food packets How much did you have some cream good bad when we had the Dixon strain in the kitchen yes but surely plants guy only touched on the minor thinks increased oxygen will make us hyperactive we won't live so long I'll know your well being upset Have you been looked at pictures of the taken from space because you realize then just how delicate out happens here he is and only the bottom layer to me at 3 miles thick can support human life it's delicate and it's under a bit of the wall of a soap bubble. I sent a report on the matter to the government's chief scientific advisor of the blogs and a sample of the Exxon strain I have suggested that the government offers generous rewards to anyone finding a plant with this 00 germination made we've discovered. The Exxon strand could be wiped out in a couple of weeks Tracy x. Ray j. 6 look at it. 10 rows. 10 seeds to a row. That's what I call 100 percent germination. I could spend all day and all night shooting holes in this theory of yours Mr President go ahead but at least for the decency to put another one in its place Mr Burroughs item the Find out how it Rogers and Denise excellence flap took place at night no sunlight therefore no photosynthesis therefore no free oxygen released therefore no fire as a result the plant have been in the bedroom all in day sealed room with no fireplace and plenty of draft excluder around the windows items according to your findings germination of the seeds doesn't take place until they've been exposed to temperatures above 40 degrees centigrade current Good we agree on something not in its June temperature outside it is what comfortable $22.00 would you say. About that and you say that these these so-called excellent strain plants are scattered over a wide area west of London and spreading all the time we are sitting here get to the point soon the point is Mr Flinders that we've not had one day so far this year in which the temperature has gone about $25.00 degrees even during a heat wave temperatures about 40 of virtually unknown so how can you possibly claim that your plants are still germinating and popping up all over the place yes that's an awkward run you agree that I've shot a little hole in your thinking you have to because they're all the time and it's not literal you can explain it away all I can do is guess the same guess somebody or bodies is germinating the seeds and scattering them yes that's our opinion too. The opinion of my committee and its defenders what committee must of laws the one that has been set up to investigate the phenomenon of the Exxon strain of thank you for that name we haven't got one set up when the 2 weeks ago it meets once a week your report was discussed at the last one. You mean you mean that you know about the Exxon station all of the wrong course you don't get a strange mutation appearing without the government getting to know about it then would you mind telling me why I've been subjected to 10 minutes of abuse of Grilli I'm sorry about that but I was anxious to find out how much speculation there was in the our approach ruffled matters a talkative man. So we would like you to join our committee Plus Howard Rogers and in these acts and typical and major problem cropped up and we form a committee. How often did you see it meets once a week this matter is urgent which would meet once a day pressing the haps not urgent the seeds germinating the Ministry of Agriculture carried out similar tests to yours and found the germination does not take place below 40 degrees centigrade I think they are germinating and I think it is urgent. Have you carried out a punt since anywhere the police will catch whoever is scattering them. Why do you want our Rogers and Denise action on the committee because they know as much as you would in fact all 3 of you out of quiet to join so we can be gagged with the Official Secrets Act I would not have put it quite like that. As you 3 have identified the problem independently we would hope that you will be willing to serve all right but you can't sit on a thing like these people are attracted to the plants they're taking them home they would do more fires last week warning posters are being printed at the moment there's a picture of the plant and a brief statement saying that it is poisonous. They'll be distributed to police stations libraries and government offices after a couple of days a press comment the whole thing will be forgotten I don't believe that we have a mutation on our hands which terrified its creator and we are talking about it and if it's a death and I look I don't like to sound patronize ing to someone of your reputation but we could be in an election year governments like election years to be calm years which as you know will probably have a new lot to cope with in the autumn and the autumn for all small kill off this wretched plant frosts Orton's and winters on known but unlikely all the committee has to do is keep a close watch on the situation until then you can carry on with your investigations into Exxon's work but keep it on the truth. Incidentally the board of directors of Alcoa being very co-operative if you require access to x. And libertarians I'm sure they'll be only too willing to. Toe the line. Perhaps you can answer one thing why do you suppose excellent opened his complex be laboratories to the public he thought it might ease the storm when it finally broke he didn't have your confidence that it would be possible to keep quiet about the Exxon station and unlike the government he was then he then he thought. I feel like God. Why all these controls at my fingertips when and so on humidity. The supposed your father felt the same why should he have created life out there in the desert climate Tarion to the lake only dad didn't create life. He bombarded seas with neutrons and gamma rays to produce a permanent crime so much change in gene mutation Max said dad nearly speeded up nature something like the Exxon strain could appear naturally next week so in the next 1000000 years. The class provide a new one does every day do they turn that be so quickly toward the light source that they seem to Russia where I don't know how to report on what's the oxygen concentrator. 35 percent now that's up 2 percent in the last hour since we increased the sunlight here so I thought it was I believe it was different so the pumps on coping here it doesn't look like it did he said would you pass your dad go pick up please. Yes here it is generally 12. He had 2000 plants growing that day the could feed at noon by 4 o'clock oxygen concentration of 400. Pounds for not producing a concentration to live the blood to vent the climate toward him but if you mean the climate Tory you know who you calling Mike Harris the chief engineer. Mike up dinies x. When the time tell him control room we've got an oxygen build up. You know it's not dangerous where wondering how to bend the time until it yanks it up to the force which is about the few minutes I control. Yeah yeah I can see them driving what they did. Pull my head. Ok. Thanks Mike try them. Where do you want to vented not yet what do the switches do 1st switch equalizes pressure. 2nd of that such is released the latches. And the false which would you believe. Opens the roof. Now when I see a priest that's what I. Did opening it was I just. Could not. Really Be off the street the government financed the construction of a kind of telling me to be able to create virtually any wreckage condition in the world of such and such a huge scale. Come up let's go and see what the plants. Me. Mockable piece of engineering Why is the class making such around the Max this is how Exxon achieved a rapid drop temperature to simulate conditions of the visit from the sun goes down opening the eyes of problem was risky health. Benefit ratio could go peacefully or it is just for the last. Few feet of the roots of life coming from all directions it's incredible when those polls best to see it's all oh do you want to save the whole season no no no we've got plenty I don't know why they need such high germination temperatures Mike's best of the great mystery knows as the beast established a sensitive area used market got me away bridge there were 3 rounds to break down last week out of the figures up to 5 it's going on the agenda next week. For the lung was so cheap this complex is right on the one of London airports like bus can't stand those things but jet engine is kind of a my just a rectory creations of the 20th century nuclear weapons are 2nd on this round is right on top. Oh I'm sorry this can control your fear weapons and jets but we can't control the Exxon stream but we can love and we've been waging war and we've struck 10000 years we haven't beaten them yet and we never will never good yet since Trina we will I weep is any unwelcome on noxious count a definition that fits the exon strain admittedly. It's a. Lot. What is. It getting done. Ok. That's. It From The He's there he's nobody's fool of the control room and try to. Impress for what ever you do. Don't prosper. As far. As. Who. Just look. Like. Killing each other to see. Denise is it possible to close the roof severely Yes. There's a variable speed control about the 6 and codes that are slowly and you can. I don't want any of those birds to escape. The. Wind was a good mornings to so this is your control not impressive derelict market garden with the top soil varying from clay to light no idea what's the latest count 20 to the hectare 5 last month and a jump and from what I saw from the train on the way down he seems generally throughout the country the police a carrying out discrete checks on all flying clubs in the south there's a possibility that some maniac is skeptic the seeds from the yeah it's not got some interesting data for you enough for you to call an outage an extraordinary meeting with a mistake. Have you thought of the consequences of the seeds reaching tropical regions where they can germinate without artificial heat one seed can become a mature plant in 4 weeks and produce 2000 with 50 percent germination rate that gives us a 1000000 plants and 2 months a 1000000000 in 3 months from one seed. No one is denying that there is a problem is to fill in gaps bring every member of a committed complex be tomorrow at 3 and I will show you the truth scale of the problem now wait a minute for and as you can't expect me to call an extraordinary meeting on your say so we'll talk tomorrow blogs climatology and of course complex be I've all the men get to expect I'll be there are alone. Oxygen concentration is now up to 40 percent is climbing fast we're going to have to open the roof within the next 5 minutes Max you've been busy Mr Glenda's how many pounds are in the climate or in. 10 to scram a town about 17 fountain quite a spectacle little work germinating that many seeds germinated by natural means and the planet. We maintain some up to the level to simulate the temperate regions that concentrations $41.00 is going to find mean that all these plants a propagate to themselves we provided sunlight water. That's all. Right things and that's how. That's what we had about to show you. Know the needs How are things on the roof. To. Be at school. You know I don't know how she can do with us 42 percent thank you Denise Brown by. The time a Korean roof open last. You will see something that will haunt you for the rest of your life. Or be invaded by thousands of bugs. Video recorders on hot rolling oxygen concentrations 42 percent equalizing pressure now 43 percent the meat is a creeping into the red zone releasing actually. Well I don't want to just take out the detainees right. Up the river that would go to oxygen concentrations 44 percent. Yes I'm sorry we. Are Forever. Listening to the roof the birds the rising of the flooding the just. The shock of seeing. 253. With my. I Phone. I should have realized that releasing thousands of books in the building. Was new and. I'm going to take a. Look. At. Rising into the expense would be. Sucked into the cross jet engines. They blew up. Why did you mount such a crazy experiment why control you how the x. On screen is spreading throughout the country. The bugs eat the seed. That is a smell that attracts them I don't know but they conquered the. Cracks the seeds skin they passed out of the buds body ready to germinate in a nice. To help them get stuffed Well now we know how the plants are spreading maybe we can do something about it. Isn't that something you've forgotten about. Migrations. Of the seed with them spreading them throughout the book like everything else we probably left it to relate. To this time we don't get a 2nd child. In the destruction factor by James Follett the part of Max Windows was played by t.p. McKenna. Howard Rogers Paul Copley Denise Xom wasn't Adam's nurse Joan Matheson and Christine Absalom blow was Michael Shannon the production was by David Spencer. And we'll have more from James Follett's the destruction factor at the same time tomorrow. This weekend in the 7th I mentioned Radio 4 extras home of so I find fantasy and horror a sinister story of a nightmare relationship what is the matter why are. You can possibly. Do. Is man that he's not saying. Come with me now. But let Mr stars in ghosts from the past plus adventures in space from down there to join me for the summer fun mentioned on b.b.c. Radio 4 extra this Saturday and Sunday at 6 pm and midnight. B.b.c. Radio 4. Now from 2003 here's Geoffrey We lead to introduce to another palace of laughter. Hello and welcome to a theatre which used to greet its audience with words of reassurance in the preface to its programs a good clean entertainment guaranteed here bring your wife and family and enjoy elegance safety comfort and respectability it's the. Best the telly the famous mail impersonator laid the foundation stone less than a year before she returned to open the theatre on the 1st of July 1807 as the grandest provincial theatre in the country 200000 seats and a day to take your breath away. Bought a dome in the center of the ceiling while on either side of the proceeding a March huge couple as crown the stage boxes and beneath them what appear to be flights of stairs behind veil the top balustrades descend to the stage itself it's an illusion in fact there are more seats with the occupants almost within touching distance of the performers they're called slippers and something I've never seen before small spaces both fronted and decorated each housing standing room for 3 people. But most of the audience will fill the serried ranks of seats in the store the ground circle in the upper circle separated in their situation but united in their delight when the curtain rises and the show begin. For my 1st few of the series when I arrived there was this towering place it was just on the just it really and it was inside and out it really was a fantastic building they had a magnificent sweep of the staircase that I remember and it sort of swept round and round and it had blood red carpeting highly polished brass rials Oh I'm going up and down I just thought I can't that's just walking down those stairs it was so magnificent. Now Mr Romance and as entertainments editor of the Sunderland echo and also the author of a book about something and then what kind of entertainment was this theater built to provide. Was built primarily to for musical it was built as a musical plays were not staged at the theater until the mid twenty's when when the legislation was relaxed and on venues and what what kinds of but when they could stage that So the kind of people who came here world the greats of musical lowered plays. Charlie top and made one of his very 1st performing princes in Britain Stumbo made a very early parents here to oversee feels how a lot of some of the some of the greats of up period looks of a peculiar speciality acts there were herds of cricketing elephants. That's one of my favorites. Out of giving a bit to say that in the twenty's fashions changed and reviews were put put put on and on think it's a Shakespeare play and only caught starts to come here then call Rose oak or company. And that has pretty much been the picture throughout its history. Someone has throughout its history been noted for the service quality of its critical reaction ragtime markets from the who came here and he was just before the 1st World War when Rock time was the great new thing. Partly born of the right time to be aware of something. Some of the great comedians of the period had a really difficult time there was a coat on chinos who was popular ever also rapid fire commission he did so by the on his 1st night that house which had some once in the monitor to cancel the rest of his this weekend. And it's linked to this day you know front cost and saying in the eighty's that thing this thing sometimes in Glasgow with places to go to avoid now that the hottest audiences and make it more people the forgotten to take my company. If you're ignorant you get 3 months. Do you believe me believe Cuban murdered 600 year old discovered here today in the going to go by archaeologist the look of boyish the constabulary are looking for a 642 year old man that the. Golden Cooper has been described as the 5th as number one customer only been coming here going over 60. My 1st memory here was of a pantomime with Dorothy Ward and Sean Glanville top of the water must have been a great age then was climbing the Beanstalk because she was Jock and everyone appreciating it did you see any unknown's here who went on to which you know well I was he told me Steele's 1st night and the royalty with my company when to show was supporting I was here in 6263 when Helen Shapiro and the Beatles hellishly people stopping the Beatles were on the bill and I was with my mother and wife until I saw it that they wouldn't do anything so I was quite wrong they were for scruffy young man and didn't appeal to me this is a huge hit and I should leave it to non-fans and I was he a woman when there were 13 people in to see Joseph lock and I was in the front row and I counted 13 people in the stalls what was in that circle I don't know but there were 13 people on a wet November night and I was one of them and Harvey Bailey who always had an Irish comedian who supported him the most of all the same agent or whatever. He was all I remember a lot was an audience to play to guess 13. We were. Little we watch. Oh. Well just his luck may not have drawn crowds at the Empire but there were plenty of performers who did most of the radio and television stars of the future appeared at the Empire in the 1920 s. And thirty's Jack Buchanan George Formby But senior and junior at Gracie Fields Tommy Handley and we Georgie would one among those whose metal was tested at the end. Among the perennial favorites was local comedian Jimmy James golden coop and he was local and I like local comedians. Helping If I'm from the northeast until I have an affinity for the northeast and Jimmy James act was such a well honed duct you knew what was coming and yet you still aloft Jimmy James came here so many times. And yet I still often. Hit his timing was so perfect with is still just a lie wards and he had drawn a causal with him unfair it's all those. But each talking they fitted into his pocket and he while I mentioned he could do it in his sleep and I would still love him excuse me that day excuse me yes when he was off when I'm in the room for you it's about only that you already lie back to join me like I already had. The note about last Monday out of the lie that if I was easy enough. So the magistrate set it up to see if cyclists didn't get examined cyclists examined I think you mean it's a cause I'd like to add in on a liability what he's made up yet good amount to the law to make now. And by that route. The guy was not married ob. He was never told about it didn't. Want to come to think of it nothing about with our up to the last May please who is often rather the know us because the pattern of no religion says. The only way to cure him of biting people is to get someone to bite him and I said good idea we're going to put you in that cage with a good laugh. Gonna kill reported it but what about the smell or was it a little get you some. That come up now to the vest a Tilley bar and under the cheerful gaze of that very lady in the print dating from the time when she opened the theatre I. Talking to James who is the technical manager and you've been here quite a while yes I arrived here in 1982 that's 31 years this year I came as a stage manager I just looked after the stage department that was stage hands the fries and there actually apartment was run by chief electrician in those days and you must have worked with some of the big names we worked with some a very big names throughout the time it's been quite an experience working here when you were here when stayed strong became real life drama to me about that that was a very nasty nights. We just started the show in fact about 10 minutes into the show is called the mating game with Sid James said went on and he's partner on the stage was a lady called Olga and after a couple minutes she came off and said I don't know if he's trying to coax me or what but I don't like the look of him I got up this vertical ladder drop the halves tabs and got down and I was still 1st to be beside sit and still see it to this day slumped almost so for I knew there was nothing I could do at that time not being true fully trained in 1st aid so I went through the tabs it was an instant decision and asked if there was a doctor in the house unfortunately the audience thought it was part of the show and they laughed. A doctor did come and he says I don't know if I've been had but I've come the ambience of the drive by then and they just basically was the poor man away from here and then we learned through a little while later that somebody said passed away and I think that really was my worst experience on stage. Well he was in the theater and go through some ups and downs I think you I certainly have I came here off in 72 and it was reopened after being refurbished and it was on a high then it took a really deep plunge it started to come back up and it's been like a roller coaster for many years but for years to come October they handed it over to for the management to a company called Clear Channel and I have noticed in the time that we are definitely on an up how do you feel about the theater. I'm ashamed to say it in some ways but I've actually put the theater before my wife in a lot of ways but I've got a very understanding wife and she knows that working in this building it's been my life after 31 hears here I'm glad she still understands even though she has retired and I've not she had the stands and on obvious will. Check and we'll tell me about when you played the sample and then bought when it was on the 6th of December when I come to sundered 1st of all and if I do send on. It was a lovely theater actors fairly Of course keeping everything else the way situated everybody could see what use doing the. And studies real ideal and other speciality x.l. I did not mean mouse often go anywhere. Or used to come out to the involved or cyber Doms that shuffle across this type bashing U.-Turn math and used to go into nature Up Mother Brown a few new solution which was when you for that will actually called and well you've now moved to live in this part of the world yes so this is your local mother it's not been now for 36 years so how do you feel about this it. Seems in. And the way they put the shows across the Great never I mean I've been back stories to court a few with some of the old pros a. Few years ago I came here to see a special charity show. They were rehearsed and then asked John Wray then rest called Why the hell is there a crisis and and people are that they all will be men and me and recognize me and we had a good go so a back story could go. Off . Among the empires menaced Oz was a young wild haired comic from Liverpool who'd been tramping the barrages circuit for years but who'd yet to break into the big time all that was about to change b.b.c. Producer James Casey whose father Jimmy James was a sample and favorite would soon be offering the young Ken Dog the chance of a lifetime he was the 2nd spot comic and it looked like it was going to go places where you are I remember him vividly wearing loads of makeup and sash and all kinds everything that could possibly make him look funny he had on but he was tremendous He went very well it's an empire and it was after I joined the b.b.c. I said you're on the tele the funniest man in this country under 50 is Ken Dodd. I don't know what it do with him on radio and he said we'll do it that's when and in the 1st radio show Vic and don't it's amazing really the things I'm used people I mean braces make some people laugh the braces make you laugh which is. 8 Why you will them. I never thought what amuses the over eighty's I've been watching my granny very closely and I found out what it is that tickled her the ground on. You've got to let yourself go inside you're all 'd quite old up like a spring I'll talk to you looks about something snapped. In a house through what unusual underpants. The way I live bed bed work work bed on which good place to work that. I have to rest me bring people often say people often say What is it about Ken Dodd that makes him different down so easy the brain after it in a nutshell. Like most variety theatres the Sunderland Empire has had to adapt to changing times the Great Depression of the 1930 s. Forced many theaters to close many mall converted into cinemas the ambience of vide but by the late 1950 s. It was struggling to provide the new styles of entertainment which audiences demanded in 1959 Sunderland Council stepped in and transformed the Empire into one of the 1st civic theaters in the country. But for Raje at the end by remained in decline Sarah Clarke is the Empire's press and marketing coordinator Do you still see this as a mirage with it do you think it's changing it's changing it still and it is I think still sort of us as I say that but we're trying to shift by having people like Paul Young come in here and the China general wellnigh events for younger audiences and shift in that attitude away from the whole to well a strawman it's musical it's comedy and that is shift and it's a hard job because obviously people have got it's got to sort of instilled in the mind what the empire is but it's definitely moving away from that now but it's often said with so few theatres offering variety of bills and I want to promote that it's very difficult for many of the old style variety acts to make a living. Do you think that there's a shortage of talent do you think it's dying and it is a risk of dying out. Sort of right ho locked but. I don't think we should let them go totally because that's that's how things like this all started. And happy new year and. They learn pretty relieved they are. Now but there's a lot of debt and. Are kind of a straight for dirt. I'm up to there I wished I was a bit taller. And there's a little sit in a. Chair pier nobody. Should not even actually do. Not going to do a lot stores but Mr don't you need to just come in take your seat tissues are beginning to dip a lot and. She was good loose money. When would you find a woman to get a ticket don't. To get on board. Drifts to kids 6 o'clock in the mornin I see where you can own 40 watches George to. Get the job. I mean crank to 12 and a drunkard to look good you. Couldn't do. That conscious of that what a lovely looking man. After Death comin a year Drunken the. First year you would have voted Tory Have you sure did no cross to move to you. So how do you see the future of the status. I think its high price has a lot of new shows coming and it will be coming here with our season between August and December is just not it's pockets of musical shows and one nice hills and that's just what progress like the future just here it's just going to be semantics we're going to get the audience the same because they want to call missing the part that we've got all seen the old my show the motor show the flower show but there's one thing that I'd like to know how you like to see a baby show I sold one of the longer we don't need film we didn't just. Write Oh not enough it started. Here on the didn't already have a big show. Up he wants lots of grab your monthly. Thing from the point where you have to be black and white small once told once wonderful just like the old saying you need to buy the book. Extra chilis thing. Really I'm really I'm fat one believed to be showing me is there anything about the theater that makes you especially when you're working here. Is it night makes you feel a bit uneasy who you must be referring to Molly. About 17 years ago we reopened our gallery. Before that the gallery was closed in acoustically and not used to tour and it was basically used as a storage area that was one place I would never go on my own I used to see white streaks. The eggs to stand on the back of my neck I'm funny enough at the present moment I have got a lad to stand in for one of my night watchman and it's 6 o'clock of an evening especially if he's in you know on his own Of the 6 o'clock of an evening he hears footsteps coming down off the stage and he's not the only one to say this it has been quite a re working in the building over night I tried to put it down to the heat is dropping in within the building and you can hear doors creak in the founder of the building but one of the worst things is when you're walking through the auditorium and if there's a Sikh stuck in all of a sudden it really says the tip of seats and go you tend to start walking a lot faster it's an airy feeling and lots of people have said they've seen Molly and I don't want to me to. Use a run of the initial big beasts with milk will the goal. Simply with the little wool. Over your. Particular song and why isn't the Keep in mind all those little paid. For it she. Still feeling at. The immense. Peter Leighton is no stranger to the Empire Sunderland because he came here many many times as a photographer what would be the purpose of your visits when we photographing I was making a record for the for the theatre for the theatre archives also we discovered very very quickly that the company members wanted copies because they obviously had occasionally they were sort of set photographs for publicity purposes but actual auction shorts they didn't seem to get very many of. And so I found that on a work far harder producing a number of friends for them than what they did and they did of old people you came here to see and event to who made the biggest impression on you. Well it wasn't someone I photographed I was here for another reason I can't even remember what it was the model in the Dietrich absolutely fabulous show but the thing that always sticks in my mind is backstage who had the star dressing room which is on a half landing and the stage crew how to build a ramp all the way down the stair is to get to the level because the the skirt of her dress was so tight she couldn't actually climb stays so she shuffled with one person on each hand down this rock and then on to the flat stage and then of course she went on and she was amazing your eyes were riveted she just held to you you know there was just something about the a kind of almost of animal magnetism or if I suppose and that really made you feel . Odd. And then we were you know at night. We will. Wait you. Name. Out of the audience take to that they loved it there loved it that's one thing I would say there was an all of the famous of do it right it did me it was sort of off there looked. My. Many shows you've seen other any particular occasions that you remember. More gradually running down the Empire and it was closing in the future was bleak and the night they closed they put on the week that they closed there was a variety bill with Bobby Thompson who was the local hero comedian Colin Granger who was a Sunderland footballer singer and international and the musical Elliot's who were a musical lock to work a local locked in the theatre was parked and people there always were for because they thought that was the end of the empire and of course it came again and among Courtland Harper to chew it together and started it again and we got what we've got today. What do you feel about this theatre it's got something. Going back to when I started and looking retrospect it was a very touchy theatre and run it on and over the years after the Corporation took it over they improved it and obviously Clearview have gone on to protest the old box office with its true little windows in the foyer which was frightening to anyone coming matriarch of a lady who was the box office monitor us and all of the box office off on top certainly to me and I think to other people too I don't know what Scott it's just more theater in a way yes. You'll be listening to Marian price Vesta Tilley. And Bobby Thompson Marlena Dietrich Jimmy James and Eli woods. Next week. In Eastbourne at the Royal Hippodrome theatre to join me that. Geoffrey led there presenting palace of laughter from 2003 the producer was Libby cross and you can hear that next episode at the same time next week here on Brady a for Extra. This week on b.b.c. Radio 4 extra you can hear a dramatization of the last major work of Leo Tolstoy resurrection It's a story of the search for atonement and forgiveness in which a nobleman seeks redemption 1st sin committed years earlier. Prince Dimitri hasn't seen Catarina for a long time and they are union makes them do well on Happy Days I must of been 3 years before I saw you again when I did. I'd changed. You had a mustache. A life. I can cause a man corrupt and maybe to a degree it's understandable we were at war ready to die so we grabbed what life had to offer So you grabbed me because you might dicey. Understand to a degree. Do you remember the midnight service Easter. Wearing a white dress with a blue sash and red hair. I had it sash you were at the heart of that service gold of the icons to glitter for you the candles and for you. Did. All the people sang for me for us. Joists.

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