Regent on Broadway, Category 1 heritage performance center in Palmerston North, New Zealand
Regent on Broadway is a performance venue with about 1400 seats across two levels, split between ground floor stalls and an upper circle. The building contains nine dressing rooms, three bars, and a dedicated rehearsal space for ballet and stage preparation.
Designed in 1929 by Sydney architect Charles Hollinshed, the Regent opened on 4 July 1930 as a cinema and opera house. It closed in 1991, and the Palmerston North City Council acquired it in 1992 by swapping it for the Opera House. Restoration in 1993 was funded by NZ$10,000,000 from the council, NZ$1,700,000 in community donations and NZ$1,000,000 from the Lotteries Grant Board.
The name comes from its position on Broadway Avenue. The mezzanine ceiling carries carved kowhaiwhai panels, and the lobby carpet, woven by Feltex, reproduces the linoleum still lying beneath it. Downstairs seats can be removed for dinners and ballroom dancing.
The venue sits on Broadway Avenue and is easy to find. The box office operates on weekdays from 9 AM to 3 PM, with additional hours opening one hour before each performance.
The building includes a second-floor function room used for events and receptions away from the main stage. This separate space allows for different types of gatherings and celebrations alongside regular performances.
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