Ipswich Regent Theatre, in St Helen’s Street, expected to close for seven months next year to allow for £3.45m revamp
An Ipswich theatre is expected to close for seven months next year to allow for a £3.45 million revamp to take place.
The curtains will close at the Regent Theatre, in St Helen’s Street, from May 2025.
A slew of upgrades, including a refurbishment of the entrance canopy to resemble how it looked when the theatre first opened in 1929; improvements for disabled access; the opening up of the crush hall and a makeover to the upstairs circle lounge were approved by Ipswich planning committee yesterday.
The proposals, submitted by the borough council, were unanimously approved by councillors.
Work is expected to be completed by December next year.
The majority of shows planned for the Regent will take place at the Corn Exchange during the period it is shut.
Cllr Jane Riley, the borough council’s portfolio holder for culture and customers, said the authority was thrilled the plans were given the green light.
She said: “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we’d like to thank them for their continued feedback and support for this redevelopment project.
“Our theatres team have carefully considered their views and have planned a comprehensive transformation across the whole building, which we hope will make a real difference to all our visitors.
“When the curtain closes in May, the show will still go on, so we’re looking forward to engaging with our visitors to ensure they are part of the legacy of the theatre for years to come.”
The revamp will be paid for using a ticket levy, introduced on August 5, which saw the price of tickets above £10 increase by 20p.
Prices on such tickets had already risen by £1.50 last year to bankroll the scheme, bringing the total increase up to £1.70.
The entire project is expected to cost about £3.45 million – £450,000 more than when the plans were first unveiled in 2023.
The theatre’s revamp will contain more nods to its Art Deco past, featuring illuminated lettering and geometric lighting.
The disabled access will be replaced and now feature a lift taking customers to the circle lounge.
The entrance will feature a ‘Wall of Fame’ mural showcasing the performers who have played at the venue in days gone by.
Inside, the bar in the crush hall will be removed and replaced with a curved, elongated one, returning it to a crescent shape. The foyer will also return to its original size and layout.
It is hoped this would allow for people to be served faster during the pre-show and intervals.
The stage in the circle bar is set to be removed and the existing bar will be replaced. The kitchen area upstairs will be repurposed as a cellar to allow for the installation of a new wheelchair accessible toilet near the new lift.
Bar capacity could be increased to between 1,000 and 1,500 people, or about 450 to 500 per bar.
An extension will also be built at the back of the building, increasing the number of toilets available to customers. The circle lounge will also feature accessible toilets.
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