TMRegentTheatre

=Regent Theatre= ====The Regent theatre is connected to the Australian family of Thrings, headed by Francis W. Thring, entrepreneur. Australia first encountered European opulent theatre-going tradition when the Regent theatre opened in 1929.====

//History//
The Regent Theatre is located on 191 Collins Street. It hosted an Australia-wide chain of magnificent cinemas built in the 1920s for Hoyts Theatres Ltd, then under the management of Francis W. Thring and George Tallis.

On the opening night of the Regent, 15th of March, it was to be the greatest theatrical event in the world for 1929. It opened with a selection of musicals and skits and a set piece was staged. The music was provided by an organ, the elaborate floral arrangements were detailed and the doors were flooding with elegantly dressed patrons. Harold Luxton spoke on the stage and congratulated Thring and Grifith for their enterprise, saying 'This theatre is an architectural asset to the city of which we can all be proud'.

In 1927 the initial plans for the Regent were submitted and in the next year the final plans were put forward. Strict licensing laws prevented a cabaret being built; instead Mr. Thring worked the space into a second theatre, The Plaza, which coincidentally gave Melbourne Australia's first cinema complex. The Plaza can sit over 1200 patrons on a single level. Regent film presentations were complemented by a concert orchestra, ballet, live acts and a Wurlitzer organ which was unfortunately destroyed in a disastrous fire in 1945. The theatre was reconstructed after only two years and it re-opened on 19 December 1947. In the 1960s changes in film-going habits weakened the cinema's audience.

The Regent and the Plaza (which had hosted a majority of wide-screen films) closed in 1970. The building was purchased by the Melbourne City Council for the City Square development. However thanks to union green bans and pressure from the community the building only just survived. In 1987 David Marriner accepted the challenge of restoring the theatre to its former glory. The refurbishment developed a new concept which is a luxurious venue for weddings and a hall for stage productions.

//Architecture//[[image:Theatres014.jpg width="196" height="259" align="right" caption="Floral Arrangement in the Regent Theatre (taken by Rachel)"]]
Cedric Ballantyne had a busy private practice, where he specialised in designing churches and private homes. When he was asked by Thring to design the Regent he gladly accepted. Being a perfectionist Ballatyne was regarded as a good planner. He created his buildings from the inside out, which was particularly important for designing theatres. A close friendship was formed between Thring and Ballantyn. They traveled overseas to collect ideas and items for the decor in the Regent Theatre. Thring was determined to separate the Regent from all other theatres. Subsequently, he decided that rather than a classical decor the theatre should be decoated in a Spanish style. Although the Regent's auditorium would remain in Empire style, its foyers would be given a lavish Spanish Gothic, cathedral-like decor.

The win staircases lead to a grand balcony which offers splendid views of the foyer and provides access to the upper level of the auditorium. The Regent was the second-largest cinema ever built in Australia. Its extensive auditorium can seat 3,287 people. The builders were working at an extremely fast pace thus causing some industrial accidents in 1928. The stage was the largest in Australia for 45 years. A worker was sent to an international working spree to purchase furnishings, artwork and mechanical equipment for the Regent. An unreasonable sum of money was spent on the decor alone. The interior decor was 50,000 pounds and 9,000 pounds had gone on paintings and statuary from Italy. When all of the bills had been paid the total cost had been 360,000 pounds. The vestibule, ticket lobby is designed in a Spanish Gothic decor. The ceiling is in a medieval style and a decorative plaster work was carried out by Picton Hopkins.

The plaster work needed merely nine draughtsmen, twelve modellers and 27 castes, as well as a further two dozen 'fixers' to install the pre-cast pieces in the theatre. The reception is in a Spanish baroque style. The ornate faux tracery window provides the impression of light and airiness. The Regent Promenade has a marble staircase on either side of the reception, lined with mirrors. Before the theatre was reconstructed by David Marriner there were two screens hidden behind the ravishing red velvet blinds. One screen was used for intermission slides and the other for the main film. Beneath the 33m stage there are hidden dressing rooms. There is special ventilation, which is kept for the actors and the audience.

Back to Theatrical Melbourne