The Regal Theatre, in Stowmarket, is celebrating record attendance figures after over 8,300 people visited the complex in the town centre.

It enjoyed its busiest ever December with 1,300 more visitors than in the previous year which culminated in an increase of 14% over the venue’s previous record breaking month.

In total 8,392 people attended the theatre last month to see the annual pantomime and two block buster films “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and “Paddington 2”.

That came on top of two other films “Justice League” which saw Batman link forces with Wonder Woman and “Ferdinand” which tells the story of a giant bull with a big heart, plus “Simply Swing at Christmas” which was produced by EJB Productions.

Regal manager David Marsh said December was an “amazing” month for the theatre and its staff with a total of 22 sell out shows and performances.

“With almost 64,000 visits during 2017 it’s our second busiest year ever but breaking the monthly admissions record that has stood for several years is a great way to finish the year.

“December got off to a wonderful start with Stowmarket Operatic & Dramatic Society’s staging of the ‘Snow White’ pantomime.

“The society, and particularly show director Meryl Bunce, are responsible for our highest attended and one of the most popular Regal pantomimes for over a decade.

“Later in the month ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ and ‘Paddington 2’ played to many full houses.

“It’s fantastic that whether it’s for live shows or films, at the grand old age of 82 the Regal is still very much part of Stowmarket family life.

“It was an amazing month for us and we were really busy with everything that we put on.

“It’s ended up being a great year for us and people will only come if the product is right and we seem to be getting it right and we were seeing people coming multiple times just to see ‘Paddington 2’ as it’s such a great family film.”

And January’s line up looks to be full of great films being screened at the theatre including “Darkest Hour”, the true story of Winston Churchill’s most turbulant and defining trials ahead of the outbreak of the Second World War; “Early Man” the Aardman Animations film about a plucky cave man named Dug and his sidekick Hognob; “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”, “Battle of the Sexes”, “The Disaster Artist” and “Paddington 2”.

Earlier this year in the Spring the venue’s owners Stowmarket Town Council invested in a new Dolby 7.1 mmersive cinema sound system for the Regal which has also boosted the sound quality.