Our Venue – Regent on Broadway

Venue for hire | Wāhi mo te utu

Premier venue for hire

Areas to hire | Wāhi mo te utu

The Auditorium

Capacity = 1393

Regency Room

Capacity = 200

Rehearsal Room

Capacity = 50

What ticket holders experience

The Entrance

As you approach the “Palatial Doors,” so described in an early newspaper report, you notice the new name as the Regent on Broadway. While there have been many Regent Theatres worldwide, there is only one situated on Broadway – a name synonymous with top entertainment – and that is in Palmerston North!

In the marble pavement immediately outside the central double doors a large brass ‘R’ has been inset. The design was originally used as decoration on the ends of seat frames and it was decided to promote this emblem as the signature of the Regent.

The Lobby

The carpet in this area is an exact copy of the design and colour of the linoleum which originally covered these areas. As lino is cold and noisy it was decided to recreate the design in carpet which was specially woven by Feltex (NZ) Ltd. (The original lino is still underneath the carpet!) The floral carpet which starts at the Grand Staircase is a copy of the original pattern which was unearthed under three layers of carpet in front of the orchestra pit at the commencement of restoration! The chandeliers throughout the theatre have all been recreated from early photographs. The barrel vaulted ceiling has been restored to original condition. At either end of the lobby are huge mirrors – now a matching pair as for many years there had only been one. No one is sure why this was so because two were originally intended. They create an impression of spaciousness and reflect the grandeur of the chandeliers.

The Grand Staircase

The Regent on Broadway was built during the Great Depression so every effort was made to create a “Picture Palace” which would take people out of the world of reality and give an air of opulence. Money, however, was still a factor and economies had to be made. For example, the huge grill arches in the Auditorium were not painted behind the drapery and the Grand Staircase, although giving the illusion of being marble, is in fact only marble on the outer edges, beneath the carpet is wood over concrete.

The Grand Mezzanine

This area is almost identical to early photographs. The plaster work has been stripped of paint work which had been added through the years and is now restored to its former rich gold-brown gloss. There were Nibble Nook bars in both the lobby and mezzanine but these have been removed and a spacious area is once again a feature of this level. The kōwhaiwhai panels in the ceiling are considered to be unique. No other theatre in the country seems to have incorporated this wharenui (meeting house) interior effect in its decor.

Floor Plan