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THE IPSWICH REGENT REFIT DIARY (2007)
Firstly a little history: The Ipswich Regent opened on Monday 4th November, 1929 as a cine-variety theatre. It also housed it's own plush restaurant. Like many cinemas it had it's own cinema organ. During the war it provided entertainment to people in the town. After the War the Regent was renamed The Gaumont and there were occasional live performances as well as all the latest movies. With the advent of television cinema audiences dwindled, the restaurant closed and was replaced the the Victor Sylvester Dance Studio.

In the rock n roll years of the 50s American performers including Buddy Holly and the Crickets performed on the stage, since that time the theatre has continued to be a major venue for music in the region. Others to have appeared include The Beatles, Bay City Rollers, Tom Jones, Status Quo and many more.

In the 60s the venue was run by The Rank Organisation they carried out major modernisation and redecoration, in the 70s they were considering transforming it into a multi-plex cinema however this never happened, thus saving it as major large venue for live acts.

In 1991 Ipswich Borough Council took over the running of the theatre.

After the close of the season in June 2007 the Regent closed for it's usual summer break and work commenced on the theatre's biggest overhaul in it's history.

Read on to follow the new chapter in the history of Ipswich's Regent Theatre and see the work in progress.....

•Above: Before work commenced in June 2007
Artists impression of the finished work (click either picture for larger version)
regent interior artist view
regent artist impression
Below: Work in Progress (last week of June 2007) - click picture for large version
regent theatre ipswich
The main auditorium is a sea of scaffolding as preparations are made for the repair and re-painting.

In addition to the work in the auditiorium the foyer and stairs are being re-carpeted.
regent theatre ipswich
Working high! Preparing the scaffolding for the painting of the ceiling.
The circle has disappeared as boards are suspended above it to allow work on the ceiling
Below: Work in Progress (12th July 2007) - click picture for large version
IPSWICH REGENT BOXES
Ipswich Regent refit 2007
Ipswich regent detail above theatre boxes
back of theatre ipswich regent
steps outside boxes of ipswich regent theatre
When the carpet was removed from the steps outside the boxes it was discovered that originally the wood was varnished. It has been decided to retain this and they have been recoated and will now have a carpet runner up the centre, allowing the wood to be seen once more.
new seat for the refit of ipswich regent theatre
Despite recent heavy rain which resulted in a flood, the work has continued apace. Approximately 8 painters have almost completed the paintwork, the boxes are completed already.

Pictured left one of the new seats waits to be fitted.

Other work being carried out include repairs and recarpeting of the main staircase. (Interestingly the concrete on edges of the steps of the staircase are heavily worn away with the continuous traffic on them).
Painting finished, now for the carpet! 1st Aug 07 (click any picture for larger version)

The new splendour of the walls.


The Stalls are ready and next in line for new carpet.

Carpeting the circle is almost complete

Heavy rain turned the stage into a waterfall and meant that repairs had to be carried out to the floor.
Carpeting completed 15th Aug 07 and now for the seats(click any picture for larger version)

Cleaning up in preparation for the seating to be installed.


Enough carpet was laid to cover two and a half football pitches.

Right: Final finishing touches and a lick of paint for the stairway.

The new house lighting system is breath-taking and capable of several million combinations.
Circle seating almost finished - 23rd Aug 07 (click any picture for larger version)





These pictures were taken from ontop of the lighting rig, high above the stage and show the new seating in the circle almost completed.
Pictured right the finished refurbishment ready for business once more!

 
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