Save the Regent

I am the great granddaughter of James Bain, the Master Plasterer who created the masterpieces in the Regent Theatre. James (pictured) lived at St James Street Normanby, where his original home has been 'renovated' but thankfully his ornate plaster work has been maintained in much of the home. This man was an exceptional craftsman and little remains of his work as Brisbane has succumbed to progress.

The Regent Theatre is one of the remaining examples of his work and I am saddened that there is no recognition of the man (or I should say men) who created this for us. We tend to look only at the artifacets and not the people who created them. The people of Brisbane have this architectural heritage which they should protect, but this is my family heritage, a place for me to go and reflect upon my great grandfather, where his hands, moulded these works of art for all to enjoy.

When the Regent was destroyed in the 70's I thought, 'it's gone', a part of me died, a feeling of immense loss, my family history destoyed. The remaining foyer was just a facade, the true Regent and it's art work gone, and this is how I have felt all these years. These past weeks my daughter has said to me "Mum, do something, say something, save the Regent". My response has been, "it's been gone for many years, there is nothing left".

Of course I am wrong, there is something left, be it ever so little, but something, which should be preserved, but in what format I am uncertain. Maybe my feeling of loss over these years has made me unresponsive.

I don't know that saving the foyer as part of a high rise complex will really achieve what we are looking for, maybe a complete removal to another site, purpose built theatre would preserve our heritage in a better environment, where we could once again go to a theatre and enjoy the grandure of a bygone era and cast our eyes once again over the craftsmanshift in the surrounds for which it was intended.

We need to look with both our hearts and our heads.

I don't know if I have made any sense to you as I am still uncertain re how I feel, but I think saving the foyer under a high rise is just another slow death. What remains deserves to live again.