Save the Regent!
Submitted by debritz on February 13, 2008 - 14:40.
I wrote here just a month ago that I feared for the future of Brisbane's Regent Theatre. Now comes news of plans to buld a tower block on the site while retaining some heritage features. I say the state government should buy the site and restore it as a grand theatre. Hang the expense; Brisbane can't afford to lose another historic building. The great cities of the world look after their past while looking to the future. This is a test for Premier Anna Bligh and Arts Minister Rod Welford. I believe the Regent could become a drawcard for locals and tourists alike as a live theatre hosting long runs of the big musicals that now debut in Sydney and Melbourne, and often go no further. Over Christmas, both southern capitals were hosting three big shows at once; surely Brisbane could host one. Imagine Phantom of the Opera in the beautiful old Regent, where the chandelier would look like it belonged. Or Billy Elliott (which Brisbane may never see), or The Lion King (which didn't come north) or Spamalot (which may not). Even if the venue made a small loss, the cost would be insignificant compared, say, to the cost of running Suncorp Stadium. It's time to rally the forces; set up petitions and not let this happen.
PS: Making it a venue for musicals is just one suggestion. Others are very welcome.
Update: There's now a Facebook group you can join, and soon a webpage will spring to life at www.savetheregent.com!
February 17 update: Laurel Edwards had her say about it on 4KQ, and then she, Gary Clare and Mark Hine spoke to me. You can listen here:
Brett, My idea is a bit far
Brett, My idea is a bit far fetched, but it is a good one. You know The Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, where they hold the Oscars each year, My idea is to make the Regent into a proper theatre again (more like Kodak where they also hold concerts in the off-season), but have it promoted that it is part of an upgraded Wintergarden and Brisbane Hilton complex. Brisbane lost two icons to build the Wintergarden and Brisbane Hilton. The Wintergarden theatre and Her Majesty's Theatre. Don't make the Regent number three.
Not a bad idea. My
Brisbane's history is full
Brisbane's history is full of stories of historic buildings being ripped down to build something new and I know I am not the only one feed up with it. The Regent is another example of this. It should be retained in it original form as a venue for live productions and even as a cinema. I remember as a child dressing up to go into town and going to the Regent, the Wintergaden and Her Majesty's to see the latest movie, it was a real event and a great experience. I would love my children to have that experience. While I have taken my children to shows at the Lyric and they have enjoyed the shows we have seen, there is a different feel to seeing a live production or movie in a theatre like the Regent. There is a sense of history you don't get with modern theatres and cinemas. The Regent should not disappear the way the Wintergaden, Her Majesty's, Cloudland and the Shingle Inn and some many other historic land marks have disappeared from our city. This has to stop. What do we do next?
I give my full support to
I give my full support to saving the Regent. There is almost nothing old left in Brisbane and Qld is just becoming one large housing estate. If they need to find more building space, there are plenty of footie ovals around! Why does everything old have to be replaced by new, especially in the CBD and by another office block! Grrrrrrrr. Anything I can do to help, just ask!
Cheers
I think an official
Many thanks Brett, you're a
Many thanks Brett, you're a gem.
Labor mayoral candidate
Imagine if this petition
Imagine if this petition made a difference and we were able to save the fate of The Regent from turning into a pile of rubble – only to become a distant memory to resurface every once in a while...
I would think what you have
I would think what you have stated in that comment, it will rekindle some memories in the original Save The Regent group from thirty years ago who are now parents with kids who still go down to the Regent, could see this and help out with the second fight.
Thanks for letting us know -
Thanks for letting us know - have just signed up.
The website,
The website, savetheregent.com, is now open for business, too.
I think the Regent may have
I think the Regent may have to re-invent itself. How about the News Theatre style of the 1950's? they had a show of 'shorts' ( cartoons, vintage comedy , documentaries etc) that repeated itself every 75-90 minutes. So many tourists in the mall, sure some would like to pop in for an hour or so, to get cool/ rest their feet and escape. The 2 downstiars theatres could show films, and sacrifice the two upstairs ones to re-development.
maybe you could pass this idea on to Greg Rowell, Campbell Newman, and anyone else spear-heading efforts to Save the Regent..
I'm Jack Kershaw, architect.
I'm Jack Kershaw, architect. It's great to see the formation of the new Save the Regent. I was one of the conveners of the original 77-79 STR. I heard that Geoffrey Rush is concerned about the current plans for the site. I remember him helping dish out bangers and mash in the interval of Warren Mitchell's freely donated The Thoughts of Chairman Alf (Garnett) we put on at Her Majesty's Theatre, "The Maj." now gone as well, on 19 November 1978. Mike Gillies contacted me about a year or so ago and I sent him a lot of our campaign material. He has prepared a beautifully presented and researched proposal for a reconstructed Regent in its existing "box". I've studied the developers' BCC Development Application plans for a massive commercial redevelopment there. It is definiely possible to slot in a reconstructed original Regent under the proposed office tower, by reconfiguring the proposed redevelopment's lift core, and its Elizabeth Street entrance foyer, relocating car parking underground, and moving a proposed food court towards the more populated Queen Street Mall. Brisbane needs a downtown (as opposed to official cultural centre facilities) picture-palace style venue. Every other state capital has one, and so does Towoomba for example. Reconstruction is feasible - as recently in WW2 ravaged Dresden. The preserved Regent Foyer is for a big, live theatre/cinema, nothing else, cetainly not as a secondary entrance to an office block.
Jack, can you send me an
Jack, can you send me an email via the Feedback link on this page?
I don't think enough people
I don't think enough people know the regent is shutting down! I didn't know till recently. I want to send the story to Today Tonight (I know they arn't the greatest but they get a lot of viewers) and get the word out about the regent and the petition, to everyone and see if we cant change this around.
i agree with you....i also
i agree with you....i also give my full suppor towards saving the Brisbane Regent.because it has nothing left which can carry the old history of Brisbane!its true every old thing has to be replaced by new one but not all of the old things should be replaced.i think if many people are on our side then the gov. may have a change in their plans.
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