MEMORIES of bygone days are being collected to celebrate the Regent Centre’s 30th anniversary as a theatre, arts centre and cinema right in the heart of historic Christchurch.

Community arts hub the Regent Centre, was opened in its present form by the BAFTA-award winning actress Dora Bryan, on June 11, 1983.

A unique relationship had been formed between the local authority and a group of more than 100 volunteers, dedicated to re-opening the Regent, when it closed as a cinema in 1973.

Former performers, visitors and local residents have been sharing their reminiscences of the centre since early June.

Many memories of the Regent date back further than 1983 as the cinema first opened in 1931 and is renowned as one of the finest examples of an early 1930s cinema to survive in Britain. The commemorative book and blog are being organised by Lorna Rees and Sarah Leithead from Gobbledogook Theatre.

Theatre star Lorna, who grew up in Christchurch and trained at the drama club in the Regent Centre during the 1990s, said: “I have a huge connection with the Regent because it’s where my career began.

“We have received a wonderfully diverse mixture of memories and anecdotes pouring in from people, such as a couple who met in the ticket queue and then went on to marry.

“It has been such a fascinating community project, with more than 80 different submissions.”

Lorna has organised a series of site tours to retell the anecdotes while leading members of the public through areas which are normally off limits, such as the projection box, dressing rooms and backstage. She said: “I try to retell the history of the Regent Centre through other people’s memories rather than just showing them around bricks and mortar.

“One of my favourites is that the Regent used to be referred to as the flea pit and people would be thrown out if they were caught kissing.”

Residents share their memories

Numerous Christchurch residents have shared their earliest and fondest memories of the Regent Centre.


Lesley Burt, who attended Christchurch County Primary, said: “We were walked in a crocodile from school to the Regent Centre to see the Coronation film.


“It was all very magical to see the golden coach, the crown, orb and sceptre on a big screen in colour.
“Not long afterwards, a repeat crocodile trotted along to see the film about the conquest of Everest, which was wonderful to us children, especially as there was an illustration in our school atlas of an aeroplane flying over the highest mountain in the world which no one had climbed.”


Toby Long, who performed in a production of Alice in Wonderland at the age of 11 said: “We loved sitting in the stalls for rehearsals watching the family of birds nesting in the ceiling light fittings flying in and out of the auditorium.


“I can still remember the soft red upholstery, my white tights and the red hearts painted on my cheeks.”


Suzette Sulley worked at the Centre from 1984 to 1999 and was responsible for taking the Regent Centre to the next level of artistic excellence and making the vision of a thriving theatre, cinema and concert hall in the heart of Christchurch a reality. 

 
The artistic foundations laid during those formative years created the springboard for the success the Regent Centre has enjoyed ever since.