Regent Theatre (Ipswich)

Ipswich Regent Theatre (formerly Gaumont and Odeon) in 2008.

Regent Theatre (formerly known as the Gaumont) is a theatre and concert venue located at St Helen's Street in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. The auditorium was recently refurbished and now holds 1,551 people, having lost around 150 seats. It is East Anglia's largest theatre. It has also been known as the Gaumont and Odeon.[1] It was designated as a Grade II Listed Building in 2000.[2]

History

The Regent Theatre opened in 1929 as a 'cine-variety hall' and was among the first UK theatres to play films with sound. Designed by WE Trent, it was extremely luxurious, with a restaurant, 14 boxes, a resident Wurlitzer organ and organist and an 18-piece orchestra. Unusually, a manager's cottage was incorporated into the theatre design.[3]

During World War II the theatre was used to stage concerts and civic events, as well as ballet and opera. During the 1950s and 1960s it hosted many top acts, including Buddy Holly and the Crickets and The Beatles.[1][4] Gene Pitney, The Hollies, The Small Faces, Roy Orbison, The Walker Brothers and Jimi Hendrix also played there.[5]

In the 1970s and 1980s – when it was known as Ipswich Gaumont – it hosted many punk and new wave acts, including Ian Dury and The Blockheads, Elvis Costello, The Stranglers, Siouxsie and the Banshees and the Boomtown Rats.[6][7][8][9][10]

The theatre today

Ipswich Borough Council took the theatre on following controversy over its future, reopening it as Regent Theatre on 21 September 1991. It was given a Grade II listing in 2000. In 2009 Regent Theatre celebrated its 80th birthday with a gala concert featuring Lesley Garrett and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.[11][12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Theatre Details: Ipswich Regent Theatre - Ipswich". Theatreandshowflyers.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  2. ↑ "Listing for Regent Theatre, Ipswich". Historic England. 2000-10-05. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  3. ↑ stagedoor Ian+ Add Contact. "87 Ipswich Gaumont 25 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!". Flickr. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  4. ↑ "Suffolk - Entertainment - The day the music came to Suffolk". BBC. 2009-01-26. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  5. ↑ "Gaumont's place in pop history realised - News - East Anglian Daily Times". Eadt.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  6. ↑ "Blockhead fans get into the rhythm - Norfolk life - Eastern Daily Press". Edp24.co.uk. 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  7. ↑ "Elvis Costello — Ipswich — Gaumont — 04 January 1979". Songkick. 1979-01-04. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  8. ↑ "The Stranglers in Ipswich on 5th Feb 1982". Down in the Sewer. 1982-02-05. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  9. ↑ "Siouxsie and the Banshees Concert Setlist at Gaumont Theatre, Ipswich on November 19, 1985". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  10. ↑ "The Boomtown Rats at Gaumont (15 Feb 85) with Zerra 1 and Zerra One | Poster". Songkick. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  11. ↑ "Regent Theatre in Ipswich, GB". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  12. ↑ "Ipswich Borough Council - Happy Birthday Ipswich Regent!". Ipswich.gov.uk. 2009-11-05. Retrieved 2013-03-26.

External links

Coordinates: 52°03′26″N 1°09′37″E / 52.0573°N 1.1603°E / 52.0573; 1.1603

360 Degree Virtual Tour

https://goo.gl/maps/1rXE7RUcJix


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