02/09/2025
📢 One of our supporters in Sydney has written to Local and State representatives about the Regent Theatre with one last crack to save it from developers who might flatten this unique hat tip to the past. Hopefully some of you will take the initiative from this and do the same. Create the artistic ground swell required. - their email is below. Let's get writing! ✍🏼
"I am writing to you today with a sense of excitement and deep appreciation for the places that bridge our past with the promise of our future—our historic theatres. Over the years, I have followed with keen interest the story of the Regent Theatre in Mudgee, a shining example of the architectural and cultural treasures still gracing our regions.
Living in Sydney, I often marvel at the resilience of such venues—reminders of an era where artistry, community, and elegant design went hand in hand.
The Regent Theatre stands as a rare and remarkably intact specimen of country Art Deco cinema, lovingly crafted by the renowned architect George N Kenworthy. His legacy is evident in the Regent’s elegant façade and period details—paralleling his celebrated work on Sydney’s Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace. For generations, the Regent served not only as a cinema, projecting beloved films like Spider and Rose and The Nugget, but also as a vibrant gathering place for performances and community life.
Recently, news of an expression of interest for the Regent Theatre’s revival brought great relief to many who, like myself, have yearned for this beautiful site to be given a new lease on life. This promising development echoes the successful reopening of historic venues such as Leeton’s Roxy Theatre, demonstrating just how powerful a community can be in restoring these architectural gems.
Looking ahead, the Regent Theatre could easily become the heart of a flourishing touring circuit, connecting Mudgee with neighbouring centres like Orange, Bathurst, and Dubbo. With Bathurst only 90 minutes away, Orange just 46 minutes from Bathurst, and Dubbo 105 minutes from Orange, the potential to share live productions and creative talent across these towns is both practical and inspiring. It’s a vision that could invigorate the regional arts scene and provide a platform for both local and visiting artists.
Mudgee itself is no ordinary country town. With a population of just over 13,000 and no traffic lights, it might seem unassuming, but it has been celebrated as Australia’s Top Tourism Town so often that it has earned a place in the National Hall of Fame—the first town to do so.
The reawakening of the Regent Theatre would not only preserve a treasured piece of architecture, but also add another dimension to the town’s already rich cultural and tourism landscape. Imagine the pride and joy as the theatre, long dormant, becomes a place to unwind, enjoy films and performances, and craft new memories for generations to come."
🙏🏼 We urge you to join in supporting the preservation and rebirth of the Regent Theatre. Let us come together—community members, leaders, and lovers of the arts—to ensure this irreplaceable piece of our shared heritage is safeguarded and celebrated far into the future. The story of the Regent is not only about bricks and mortar, but about the enduring power of community and the magic of the arts to connect us all.
Image credit Barocky Chocky 🙏🏼
