Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent facts for kids
The main entrance
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| Address | Picadilly Stoke-on-Trent England |
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| Owner | Ambassador Theatre Group |
| Type | Theatre |
| Capacity | 1,600 |
| Opened | 1929 (as Super Cinema), 1999 (as the Regent Theatre) |
| Website | |
| Official Website: https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre/ | |
The Regent Theatre is a famous theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, England. It first opened in 1929 as a cinema. Today, it is one of the main theatres in the city.
The Ambassador Theatre Group runs the Regent Theatre. It is one of two theatres they manage for the Stoke-on-Trent City Council. In 1999, the building became a full-time theatre. Since then, it has shown many popular plays and musicals. The theatre is also a northern home for the Glyndebourne Touring Opera.
Contents
History of the Regent Theatre
From Cinema to Theatre
The building started as a cinema in 1929. It was built by a company called Provincial Cinematograph Theatres. They built other "Regent" cinemas across the country. William E. Trent designed this building. The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, William Leason, opened it.
The Regent was not just for movies. It also had a stage for live shows between films. A special Wurlitzer organ was also installed.
Big Stars and Changes
In 1950, the cinema changed its name to The Gaumont. It started hosting local amateur plays. This happened after the nearby Theatre Royal closed. The Gaumont also held live concerts. Famous singers like Shirley Bassey, Cliff Richard, and Stevie Wonder performed there. Even The Beatles played at The Gaumont!
In 1974, the building became a cinema with three screens. It was renamed The Gaumont Film Centre. Then, in 1976, Odeon Cinemas took it over. The cinema was very popular in the 1980s. But in 1989, a new, bigger Odeon cinema opened. This led to the old Gaumont building closing down.
Bringing the Theatre Back to Life
By the late 1990s, the old building was in bad shape. The roof inside was damaged by water. A group called the 'Regent Theatre Trust' started to plan its repair. Later, the city council took over the project. This was part of a bigger plan to improve the city's cultural area.
Parts of the old stage and seating area were taken down. A new stage, backstage rooms, and an orchestra pit were built. The main seating area was fixed up. New front-of-house areas and easy access for disabled visitors were added.
Reopening and Modern Shows
After three years and a £23 million renovation, the Regent Theatre reopened. A local amateur group, The Porthill Players, performed a concert. The theatre officially reopened on September 22, 1999. The first big show was the national tour of Annie.
In October 1999, Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the theatre. Since then, the Regent Theatre has hosted many big national tours. These include Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cats, Starlight Express, and 42nd Street. The theatre also puts on a fun pantomime every year. Local celebrity Jonathan Wilkes often stars in it.
Theatre Design and Look
The Regent Theatre is built in the Art Deco style. This means it has a sleek, modern look from the 1920s. The front of the building is covered in white shiny terracotta. You can see mask designs of comedy and tragedy on each corner. These masks are symbols of theatre.
Images for kids
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The main entrance of the Regent Theatre.
