The Regent Theatre

Re-inspire the romantic side of your brain and pay a visit to The Regent. Phantom of the Opera meets Moulin Rouge in this intimate, beautiful, wonderfully restored space. Built in 1928, the original design is a variation of Queen Victoria’s Regent Theatre in Brighton, UK, which was descended from Charles Garnier’s design for the 1875 Paris Opera, Palais Garnier. In 2011 the theatre underwent a massive 7.5 million dollar redevelopment and has re-emerged as the cultural hub of Dunedin. 

From film festivals, plays, ballets, orchestras, comedians, graduations and dinners, to experimental art performances, with a seating capacity of 1,600 there is very little that this space cannot accommodate. The Regent’s Clarkson Studio is also housed within the complex, a boutique performance space seating around 100 audience members, for smaller local and touring performances.

The setting is intimate, the architecture is inspiring and your imagination will take you places all on its own as you walk up the sweeping staircases, admire the high vaulted ceilings and cower underneath the enormous chandelier. This amazing space was originally destined to become a carpark, and we are very glad for the people of Dunedin that it did not.