Washington Arts Centre, off Biddick Lane, closed its doors yesterday, after what is believed to be a bark scorpion, the most venomous in North America, was discovered in a cleaner's cupboard.
The Echo has been told that a cleaner raised the alarm after spotting the scorpion in the centre before it opened on Monday.
Pest controllers were at the centre yesterday and a sign at the main entrance said it would be closed for the day.
It is thought the scorpion may have come into the centre in a consignment of instruments sent over from North America.
Some of the instruments have been unpacked but it is believed a number of boxes are still sealed and standing on the centre's stage.
A man who contacted the Echo anonymously said the scorpion had been caught and is being stored in a freezer at the centre.
Tests show scorpions can survive being frozen for weeks.
Nigel Judson, from Washington Theatre Group, said the players had been rehearsing close to the stage at Washington Arts Centre on Tuesday evening.
He said: "Luckily we are between shows or we would have had a problem."
Norma Johnston, assistant head of Street Scene (Public Protection and Regulatory Services), at Sunderland City Council, said: "We decided to close the centre to allow precautionary treatments to take place.
"We believe that the scorpion may have come into the building in a consignment of musical instruments recently delivered form North America, but the species has still not officially been confirmed.
"We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the closure and will try where possible to rearrange any classes or activities which will be disrupted as a result."
The Arizona bark scorpion is nocturnal and normally feeds on crickets or cockroaches.
Its sting can cause severe pain, and the number of victims stung is estimated to be thousands.
But in Mexico, more than 100,000 people are stung annually
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