Regent Theatre

The Regent Theatre stands in St Helen’s Street, Ipswich, in the East of England. It is East Anglia’s largest theatre and a Grade II listed building. Originally opened in 1929 as a cine-variety hall, it was designed by William Edward Trent with a restaurant, fourteen boxes and a resident Wurlitzer organ. The theatre also included a manager’s cottage within its structure. During the Second World War it hosted concerts, civic events, ballet and opera. In the 1950s and 1960s it welcomed acts such as Buddy Holly, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. The theatre has a long history of hosting major performances across different genres. Punk and new wave acts like Ian Dury, Elvis Costello and Siouxsie and the Banshees appeared in the 1970s and 1980s. After a period as the Gaumont and then the Odeon, Ipswich Borough Council reopened it as the Regent Theatre in 1991. In 2009 it marked its 80th birthday with a gala concert featuring Lesley Garrett and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Inside, the auditorium retains much of its 1929 decorative treatment despite later alterations. A 2023 backstage redevelopment added dressing rooms, wardrobe space and improved welfare facilities for touring productions. The 2025 front-of-house refurbishment introduced a new extension with toilets, a Changing Places unit, a lift to the Circle Lounge and restored Art Deco features. The foyer now displays a ‘Wall of Fame’ celebrating the theatre’s performance history.