It’s been another record year for a small Suffolk theatre which has had almost 56,000 admissions during 2013.
The Regal Theatre, in Stowmarket, has enjoyed its busiest year on record seeing an increase of about two percent compared to 2012 for customer numbers.
Regal manager David Marsh said: “2013 has been a great year for the venue, with films like Les Miserables, Despicable Me 2 and Saving Mr Banks doing some really good business and on the live show side of things, it was lovely to have almost a whole week of sell out performances for Stowmarket Operatic & Dramatic Society’s production of the Cinderella Pantomime”.
“We’re going to have to work even harder in 2014, so, on January 18 we’re launching ‘Pocket Money Movies’; we’ll be screening a family film every Saturday and Sunday morning, Children pay just £2.00, with an accompanying adult going free. We’re hoping it’ll be popular.”
Of the 55,952 total admissions in 2013, 46,325 came for cinema, 9,627 for live shows and talks.
Major proposals for the theatre were revealed in November - with plans to increase capacity and improve the building’s frontage.
The work is earmarked to start in 2015 and is expected to close the theatre for about two weeks. Doors could also close for matinee performances for a number of weeks as well.
In the next few weeks the Regal is showing The Railway Man and Mandela, and continues to show The Hobbit 2, Frozen & Saving Mr Banks.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here