When the Regent Theatre on Broadway in Palmerston North opened on 4 July 1930 it was described as The Theatre Beautiful, and that it was creating an entirely new standard of entertainment.
Regent on Broadway is a grand old lady of theatre with a timeless elegance, saved from demolition by the local community. It has been lovingly restored to its former glory.
With the re-opening as the Regent on Broadway in 1 May 1998 that description could still stand.
The 1600 seat Regent Theatre was hailed as one of the country’s top six movie theatres in the early 1960’s. The Regent Theatre was one of the largest built in New Zealand and became a landmark in the city as well as attracting national attention.
Today, as a 1393 seat venue, the Regent on Broadway can still claim to be one of New Zealand’s finest performing arts facilities, indeed one of the top four in the country.
Regent Theatre on Broadway plays host to a full calendar of international, national and community shows. The New Zealand Ballet and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra regularly perform here, and patron Dame Kiri Te Kawana, Dame Malvina Major, Sir Howard Morrison, the Topp Twins, Shane Cortese and Billy Connolly all rave about the Regents Theatre’s exceptional acoustics.
From an architectural point of view the Regent Theatre is an opulent neo-classical picture palace – a renaissance style that is pure escapism. You will be wowed as you walk through the 17th Century Baroque-style lobby with its elaborate friezes and barrel vaulted ceiling. The Regent Theatre’s professional lighting creates an ambience and enhances an evening not to be forgotten.
The Regent Theatre on Broadway is located 1.5km from Harringtons Motor Lodge.
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