Empire Theatre, Sunderland

The dramatic 90ft round tower of the Empire Theatre with its dome and revolving sphere that held a statue of Terpsichore, the Greek goddess of dance, is an example of Edwardian architecture with its boldly projecting cornice and oeil-de-boeuf dormers and arts & crafts bow windows in the upper floor.
It was designed by local architects William and TR Milburn and opened on 1 July 1907 by variety and vaudeville star Vesta Tilley, who had laid the foundation stone on 29 September 1906, and Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren made her stage debut here in 1968.
The building’s architectural detail and round tower lend itself to a monochrome study which hopefully has captured its curved shape.