Not the theatre we deserve
There is no doubt that Brisbane needs another theatre, and yesterday the Queensland Government indicated that it may get one.
However, the government expects a developer to build a commercially viable theatre on the old court-house site - yet just a few years ago it allowed the historic Regent to be developed into an office tower with tiny, token auditoria replacing a historic theatre.
This is a slap in the face to the 15,000+ people who signed petitions, joined Facebook groups and marched in the streets to save the Regent.
Why a new theatre rather than a restored Regent? It can only be because they want another concrete box, not a theatre in the classic style, which the Regent once was and could have been again.
Premier Anna Bligh has dared to compare the situation with that in Melbourne, which gets the lion's share of theatre premieres. She neglects the fact that Melbourne has many marvellously restored old theatres such as the Princess, Regent and His Majesty's.
And, of course, any new theatre would be in the relative backblocks of George Street, not on Brisbane's original "Broadway" of Queen Street, where the Regent is, barely, the last theatre standing.
- Login to post comments
Comments
as if theyre gonna force a developer to build a theatre there
thats the asshole end of town (where the lawyers lurk) and not where the arts community or entertainment district of Brisbane is.
OMG
Look at this http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=86567294&postcount=1197
Why can't that be done here?
Why cant they do that to the Regent? If the developers did it might stop the vehement rage I'm feeling towards Brookfield Multiplex right now. This development needs to stopped dead in it's tracks until we at least have a viable office tower. Otherwise I feel Brisbane will only have a hole in the ground for the next two years. It would probably be more financially feasible for the developers to restore the theatre as it was in 1929 rather than build their planned forty floor pile of arse!
stop this madness
rebuild-the-regent
make it modern and awesome and decorate it in the old style it was originally decorated in
Corporate Crimes Against Culture
It is great to hear that the Queensland Government is finally acknowledging that their sterile cement box (aka QPAC) does not fulfill Brisbane's cultural needs, and that they are encouraging the concept of private theatrical enterprises on inner city sites. Hooray for proposing an end to government monopoly of our performing arts venues!!!
This token unfunded "proposal" does not however compensate for the travesty that they have actively sponsored on the site of Brisbane's Regent Theatre (against the outcry and wishes of the public who elect them to represent their wishes and best interests).
It is rather sad and ironic that a shopping complex named "Broadway on the Mall" was established within a few years of the destruction of Brisbane's iconic theatre strip opposite it in the 1980s - yet another insult to the performing arts industry of this state and tribute to the flawed priorities of developers and politicians.
One cannot help but wonder if Bligh's statements are just another empty pre-election promise; as occurred when we were assured that ALL original elements of The Regent would be protected and preserved... a promise hollower than the ORIGINAL 1920S theatre box now is!!!
There WERE genuine offers from theatre entrepreneurs interested in restoring The Regent to a viable large auditorium. Did the government support them? No. Instead they traded Brisbane's last large heritage-styled theatre (our very own fairy-tale picture palace) for an untenable office tower containing token auditorium-styled conference facilities.
SHAME ANNA SHAME!!!
We don't need a brand new Legoland performance space when we already have a perfectly grand Regent Theatre that is ready and waiting for internal restoration to her former and future glory.
RESTORE OUR REGENT!
It's not too late Brisbane and Queensland: Australia and the whole world are watching on.
Are we going to allow total demolition of our original 1920s Regent Theatre box (Elizabeth St) in front of our very eyes whilst our politicians make sleight-of-hand pre-election decoy "promises" of an unfunded independent concrete box? ...Hey look over there! No don't watch the demolition or take notice of the scaffolding all over the original 1920s rear facade - SHAME ANNA!
Yes, this structure IS the original Regent Theatre box for the uninitiated. And no, it is not heritage protected. In fact it was REMOVED from the register in the 1990s without a proper inspection. And since then it has been given heritage "immunity" for a small fee. Nice work Qld "Heritage" Council.
The original theatre is still on the national register in its entirety. This is a desecrated heritage site.
http://www.heritage.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahpi/record.pl?RNE8414
This theatre if properly restored to 1500+ seats is perfect for touring music acts, vaudeville, dance, comedy, film festivals, fashion parades, red carpet events... I am talking about the Regent when it was a THEATRE, not as the crappy 4 cinema complex it has been for the past 30 years within the ORIGINAL 1920s theatre box!
Our original Regent Theatre BOX is ready for total demolition by owners ISPT and developers Brookfield Multiplex.
WE ARE ALL WATCHING - RESTORE OUR REGENT THEATRE!
Illegal activity?
Does this mean that the State Government and the Developer are currently acting illegally?
IT STILL STANDS
IT CAN STILL BE SAVED
IT CAN STILL BE SAVED
IT CAN STILL BE SAVED
IT CAN STILL BE SAVED
IT CAN STILL BE SAVED
IT CAN STILL BE SAVED