Regal Theatre Precinct Redevelopment

The Regal Theatre precinct redevelopment will revitalise a beloved and iconic Adelaide cultural institution and ensure its future as the foremost performing arts theatre and cinema in the eastern suburbs.

*** UPDATE December 2024 ***

A $2.434m grant was secured from the Federal Government's Thriving Suburbs Program. Funding is also being sought from the State Government to enable the redevelopment project to proceed.

A Development Application has been submitted.

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Regal Theatre Detailed Design

On 17 September 2024 Council considered and endorsed the Regal Theatre Precinct detailed design for the purpose of proceeding to the development application stage and to seek state and federal funding.

The project will rejuvenate the heritage-listed theatre and surrounding precinct, increasing accessible outdoor open spaces, tree plantings and landscapes, to accommodate a greater range of performances, patron experiences and retail, café and outdoor dining opportunities.

You can see the Detailed Design in the Documents Library to the left of screen. Also take the time to look through the Report to Council on 17 September 2024 for lots more detail.

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The Regal Theatre Draft Precinct Master Plan

A direction for the future

Council seeks to partner with the community to create a precinct master plan to provide holistic direction for the future of the Council owned and managed Regal Theatre precinct.

The precinct master plan will protect the heritage listed theatre and will also be strategic, evidence-based, consider community feedback, current and future demographics, emerging trends and community needs.

A precinct master plan will ensure that future maintenance and development options of the theatre building and adjacent allotments are not ad hoc, but rather sensitive, planned, purposeful and complementary.

Download the 'Report to Council 28 June 2022' and the 'Regal Theatre Draft Precinct Master Plan document' from the Document Library on the right to read more detail, and view artist's impressions of the proposed plan.

Have your say on the draft plan

In 2020 and 2021 Council consulted with the community to understand how the precinct is being used, and what aspirations the community had for the future of the precinct. This valuable feedback has been analysed and from this information, a Draft Precinct Master Plan has been developed based on the following objectives:

• preserve and enhance the heritage value of the theatre building.
• accommodate movies, live entertainment, and complementary activities to increase the use and patronage of the theatre and surrounding outdoor precinct.
• provide sufficient car parking, easily accessible connections and disability access.
• increase useable open space, tree planting and landscaping and improve environmental sustainability of the area.

The existing precinct features:

• an L-shaped allotment that incorporates the theatre building, the Hula Hoop bar and café, and a garden.
• 46 compliant car parks in Uxbridge Street car park and at 35 May Terrace (the theatre car park).
• two accessible car parks.
• 300m² open space.
• pedestrian crossing 86m from theatre entrance.
• 39 May Terrace - a cottage used for storage.

The Draft Precinct Master Plan

(download the Draft Precinct Master Plan from the document library on the right to view a larger version of this plan)

Below: a proposed extension increases the usability and viability of the theatre:

• ● existing heritage features to be preserved, enhanced and complemented.
• ● increase the theatre stage size, and add stage wings to improve functionality for performances and to attract more and different acts.
• ● new dressing rooms and toilets for performers.
• ● noise attenuation to the theatre building to improve audience experience and resident amenity.
• ● a new accessible toilet.
• ● a new exit to the eastern gardens.
• ● renovate the existing disability toilet and ladies toilet to provide equitable access to both from the foyer.
• ● new back of house storage and deliveries (scene dock).

To meet Council’s objectives, the draft plan includes the following key features (plus many more shown in the images on the preceding pages):

• increase the number of compliant car parks to 60 with the redesign of the theatre car park, and realigning the existing parks in the Uxbridge Street car park.
• maintaining two accessible car parks.
• a new pedestrian crossing 30m from the western car park and 35m from the theatre entrance.
• new small outdoor stage with shade structure.
• rejuvenate disused undercover area to create a ‘laneway’ atmosphere with outdoor dining, artwork, furniture and lighting.
• remove cottage to increase accessible open space by 670m² to 970m², and increase lawn area by 135m² to 320m².
• keep, increase and upgrade the garden to the east of the site and plant new iconic tree and two new deciduous trees, and additional other plantings.
• new storage, a kitchen, toilet facilities and screened bin storage.
• improved outdoor facilities for patrons and families.