Regent on Broadway facts for kids
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| Location | Palmerston North, New Zealand |
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| Owner | Palmerston North City Council |
| Capacity | 1393 |
| Construction | |
| Renovated | May 1998 |
| Architect | Charles Hollinshed |
| Designated: | 11 November 1989 |
| Reference #: | 5104 |
The Regent on Broadway is a large and important theatre located in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It got its name because it is the Regent Theatre, and it stands on Broadway Avenue. This theatre is a popular place for many different shows and events.
Contents
The Regent's Story: From Past to Present
How the Regent Theatre Began
The Regent on Broadway was designed in 1929 by an architect named Charles Hollinshed from Sydney. The theatre officially opened its doors to the public on July 4, 1930. When it first opened, it was used as both a cinema (a place to watch movies) and an opera house (a place for musical plays).
Saving the Theatre
Over the years, fewer people went to the movies, and the Regent Theatre closed in 1991. But the Palmerston North City Council (the local government) wanted to save it. In 1992, the Council took ownership of the building. They traded it with the previous owner for another building called the Opera House.
Bringing the Regent Back to Life
After the Council took over, a big effort began in 1993 to fully restore the theatre. This meant fixing it up and making it new again. The Palmerston North City Council gave 10 million New Zealand dollars. The community also helped by donating 1.7 million New Zealand dollars. The New Zealand Lotteries Grant Board added another 1 million New Zealand dollars. This money helped to bring the Regent on Broadway back to life.
Special Features of the Building
During the renovations in the 1990s, many parts of the theatre were carefully cleaned and restored. The main room where people watch shows, called the auditorium, has beautiful painted panels on its roof. The staircase that leads up to the mezzanine floor (a balcony level) has soft carpet in the middle and shiny marble on the sides.
The main entrance area, called the lobby, is covered with a special carpet. This carpet was made to look exactly like the original floor covering that was underneath it. Even the mezzanine floor has special carved panels in its ceiling, called kowhaiwhai, which are traditional Māori designs. Because of its history and design, the building is listed as a Category 1 Historic Place by Heritage New Zealand.
The Regent Today: A Busy Place
A Top Performing Arts Centre
Today, the Regent On Broadway is known as one of the best places for performing arts in New Zealand. It is often compared to other famous venues like the Wellington Town Hall and the Christchurch Town Hall. This means it's a very important place for concerts, plays, and other live shows.
Seating and Spaces
The auditorium can hold many people, with space for 1393 seats in total. There are 721 seats on the ground floor and 672 seats upstairs in the circle area. For some events, like dinners or ballroom dancing, some of the downstairs seats can be removed to create more open space.
The theatre also has several dressing rooms for performers. There are smaller ones next to the auditorium and larger ones upstairs. The venue also has a big function room upstairs from the mezzanine. There is also a rehearsal studio, which is used for many activities, from ballet dancing to practicing for stage shows.
A Hub of Activity
Because of all the different activities it can host, the Regent on Broadway is one of New Zealand's busiest venues. It is the only large theatre in the wider Palmerston North area, making it a central hub for entertainment and culture in the region.
