Save the Regent

Whatever happens with The Regent, there seems to be agreement that some of its original features be kept. Here's a report on a recent discovery, and provides food for thought for the building's developers:

One of the chandeliers from inside the original Regent Theatre auditorium has recently been located and is intact. Also located are several curved decorative plaster panels which formed the surrounds of the four intermediate chandeliers in the auditorium. Location and custodian are to remain anonymous at this stage, but it is in Brisbane.
The Regent had three different sizes of chandeliers. The largest was the massive 1 ton bronze chandelier which hung from the upper dome. The next (smaller) size was the set of four which hung from the outer corners of the ceiling around the dome. The smallest size were the five chandeliers which hung one each in front of the royal boxes and a further three suspended across the back of the dress circle. It is one of these which have been found intact.
Although it is the smallest in size, its proportions are still massive by today's standards. It stands over 1.8m high and is made of decorative plaster with a central metal conduit skeleton to transport the wiring for the globes and hangs by a bronze chain from the ceiling. It has 25 light globes and is quiet heavy.
The next size up in chandeliers (intermediate) consisted of the small one above with the previously mentioned decorative panels around the upper half to extend the diameter somewhat.
It would certainly be possible to use these important decorative elements of the original Regent in any new construction of the theatre area. For example, the original remaining chandelier could for replicated using moulded fibreglass (GRP) to produce a complete set of
them, and the additional panels also remade in GRP to produce the larger versions. There would be a huge weight saving and modern electronics would make them safe and economical to use in the "new" Regent. When painted they would look just like the original.