Busiest year ever for Stowmarket theatre venue
The Regal Theatre in Stowmarket has enjoyed its busiest year on record with 67,628 admissions during 2018, an increase of over 4,000 visits over 2017.
David Marsh, the manager at the complex in Ipswich Street, said: “2018 has been an amazing year for the venue, we’ve increased admissions by almost 7%, with brilliant movies like Bohemian Rhapsody, The Greatest Showman and Mary Poppins Returns doing some tremendous business.
“December has been a great month, we’ve had some fantastic live entertainment on stage, Andy Ottley’s Elvis Tribute and Cara Lea’s Showcase were both sell-out shows and we enjoyed a very busy week with Stowmarket Operatic & Dramatic Society’s production of the Dick Whittington pantomime.”
The Regal first opened in 1936 as a 600 seat cinema, Stowmarket Town Council saved the venue from closure in 1971.
Over the next 45 years they have continued to grow the facility, adding the cafe bar, stage, dressing rooms, digital projector and 7.1 sound system, they are now planning a major refurbishment and expansion in 2019.
David Blackburn, Stowmarket Town Clerk said: “This is a tremendous achievement for the Regal team. The new record shows how popular the Regal Theatre is within the town. We wish to build upon this success and are looking forward to announcing our exciting plans for the future of the theatre in the new year”.
The Regal is currently screening Aquaman, The Old Man and the Gun & Mary Poppins Returns.