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RegentRegent
Regent
Regent Promenade
gentgent
gentent, how the auditorium and backstage were destroyed by fire in
g
1945, the re-opening in 1949 and the long battle to save the build-
ing after it closed again in 1970. This took until 1996 when it re-
opened with the building’s third Wurlitzer (4 rank/36 manual from
the GranadaGranada San Francisco, USA), which is the largest Wurlitzer out-
GranadaGranada
Plaza TheatrePlaza Theatre
side America. Off next to the Plaza TheatrePlaza Theatre, sited in the basement of
the RegentRegent. This was very badly damaged in 1945 by the water used
RegentRegent
RegentRegent
to put out the fire above in the RegentRegent and was restored to the origi-
Regent
Regent & Plaza TheatresPlaza Theatres Collins Street nal Spanish Colonial style, with the foyer looking like a Spanish
Plaza TheatresPlaza Theatres
RegentRegent
Courtyard, complete with flooring to imitate roughly-laid stones. The
only used to advertise the current musical, The Lion King, we en- auditorium has ceiling beams decorated in an Aztec style with heral-
tered the Grand Foyer (Las Salle de Reception) which is decorated in dic emblems and is now used as a banqueting hall and function
a Spanish gothic style and felt like a cathedral. The walls are cov- space. As we left we noticed statues of Comedy and Tragedy on the
ered in wonderful murals of medieval knights and heraldic motifs. side wall – think what a tragedy it would have been to lose such a
Further into the building we reach the Regent Promenade with a splendidly restored building, especially after the long period of inac-
barrel ceiling and murals of scenes from Laurence Olivier’s Henry V tivity it experienced. Our last stop for the day was to the ComedyComedy
ComedyComedy
T
TheatreTheatre
at both ends. Once we had entered the dress circle and sat under Theatreheatre, always mainly a playhouse with seating for 997; it has a
Re-Re-
the massive dome and chandelier, we heard the history of the Re-Re- highly decorative brick façade and was completed in 1928.

Regent
Plaza Theatreaza Theatre auditorium – now ballroom
Regent Grand Foyer Pl
Plaza TheatrePlaza Theatre
RegentRegent
FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY: MELBOURNE CITY CENTRFRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY: MELBOURNE CITY CENTRE WALK-E WALK-
FRID
FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY: MELBOURNE CITY CENTRAY 17 FEBRUARY: MELBOURNE CITY CENTRE WALK-E WALK-
ABOUT (DAY 2) AND “CINEMA UNDER THE STARS” EVENINGBOUT (DAY 2) AND “CINEMA UNDER THE STARS” EVENING
A
ABOUT (DAY 2) AND “CINEMA UNDER THE STARS” EVENINGABOUT (DAY 2) AND “CINEMA UNDER THE STARS” EVENING
Friday began with a walk to RMIT University for a presentation on the
history of the CapitolCapitol TheatreTheatre, as it was not known whether we would
CapitolCapitol TheatreTheatre
be able to gain access as the University was refurbishing it for use as
a lecture theatre. However, after walking back down Swanston
Street to the theatre, we were allowed in as long as we did not touch
the wet paint! The style of the Capitol TheatreCapitol Theatre, which opened in
Capitol TheatreCapitol Theatre
1924 with 2,137 seats within a plain office block, was magnificent
Art Deco, consisting of stepped ridges which held recessed lighting
troughs. In 1964, the former stalls area was redeveloped into a
shopping arcade, which we entered now to gain access to the thea-
tre (now with 791 seats) located in the former circle. The auditorium
took our breath away. The ceiling consists of stepped ridges of or-
nate plaster shaped to form crystals which concealed 4,000 col-
oured light bulbs in recessed troughs. These originally changed col-
our and were manually operated but are now operated by computer.
Capitol TheatreCapitol Theatre
Ca
The plasterwork descended from the ceiling and down the side walls Capitol Theatrepitol Theatre auditorium
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