THE REGENT THEATRE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 133, 2 December 1926, Page 9

THE REGENT THEATRE

LAST WORD IN LUXURY

A WONDERFUL INTERIOR.

Emulating the fabled phoenix, from the ruins of the old Tivoli Theatre has sprung into being a new. theatro, The Regent, which will, it is claimed, outclass any building of a like nature hitherto erected in New Zealand;. Superlatives' used in describing its unique features are no exaggerations, and.it is safe to say that the •public of Wellington, led to expect something, out of the ordinary, will not be disappointed on the opening day. For months past the new theatre has been iv the hayds of the builders, as many, as one hundred at a time sometimes being on the job, arid, although there is still a vast amount of work to be done before the opening, sufficient progress is assured to .enable. the ; opening to take place as.arranged. ..... ..- '

" . Of the old Tivoli nothing remains ex- ,' cept the outside wall, the whole of the in'■terior is new. Not only new in structure, it is new in' generai design and arrangement, and possesses '■numerous fea- .. 'tures not. seen in any other theatre in New ■' Zealand and, to be found in only one other ■•■ south o£ the Line. From a spacious vestibule leads a marble staircase to the circle, ■but before reaching the circle the theatre ,'liatre-n will foul himself in-a large, outer :toyer,: with'cloak rooms and offices. Here he may promenade arid enjoy ■ the trag-''vi-ant weed 'while listening -to the. music. -In the inner foyer the furnishings are ..luxurious; rich carpets, antique furniture, -. and oil paintings of . over a. thousand pounds in value, are all provided ior his '' comfort—comfort being the keynote of all tbie interior. "The circle itselt will seat roughly 600 persons. In most theatres ■•double that'-number would have been fitted into the- same space, but here -.again the comfort of patrons has been the ■first consideration, and half the circle is occupied with what can only bo described .-as luxurious armchairs;. The' seating in '"■ .the. rest of the circle and on the ground floor, the latter accommodating another persons,-;is also the' very' acme or ' comfort. ; ' ' -' ■ ■ ■ The greatest feature of the.new theatre is the scheme of decoration, and more especially the lighting. . The gorgeous plaster work and colouring of the proscenium is enhanced by a clever system of indirect lighting m three colours which gradually blend into each other." Tho .whole system is one of indirect lighting, and when it is mentioned that of the two thousand lights in the auditorium not one is visible, some idea of the novel effect may be ob- . tamed. " , , '••'■ -The stage-is of sufficient size-to accom- ■ • pibdate any class of entertainment. The orchestral; well-is bo constructed that by means' of -a hydraulic lift the orchestra can be raised into position or lowered out of sight, as the. occasion demands, without - any movement on the part of the performers. -Prom every part of the • theatre a. ; complete view" of the whole stage can be 'bbtained. With steam heating, throughout and special ventilation, there will be no need to fear the Vagaries of the climate. Uniformed.commissionair.es, pageboys, and ushers will all-be in keeping with the high" standard otherwise observed. The Recent Theatre,, which is the first o£ a chain" to be erected by the J. C. Williamson Company, set's an entirely newstandard. Primarily a picture theatre, it .will have the very latest projection instru- ■ meritg, but. in addition to the pick of the • -pictures,- special vaudeville acts will be -. incorporated, into the programmes. There '.will be two sessions daily, at 2.15 and 7.45, when the complete programmes will be given, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., except during the afternoon session, pic- ' ttires-only willbe shown. - '■■-■ The architect responsible ior the Regent Theatre is Mr. Cedric Ballantyne, of Mcl- • bourne, and the work is being supervised - on the spot by Mr. B. Suttpn. Mr. J. T. Julian and Soil, Ltd., are the builders. Mr. .Beaumont Smith, as J. C. WilliamVspti'p.' managing.director in New Zealand, ''miribe.ih charge of-the theatre: '•■ ;