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.

Council is aware of existing noise and parking issues from events currently held at the theatre and Hula Hoop. Any future use of the proposed open space would not exceed the current on-site noise levels and the master plan proposes improvements to current noise attenuation. The increase in compliant car parking spaces will help improve existing parking constraints. Development rules require 41 car parks including a minimum of one DDA accessible park for a building the size of the theatre and its intended use, and the proposed master plan offers 60.

The precinct will also benefit from an upcoming full review of parking and traffic of the wider Marryatville/Kensington Park business precinct, of which The Regal Theatre is part. The Cities of Burnside and Norwood, Payneham & St Peters will soon be developing a Marryatville Precinct Master Plan in full consultation with the community to provide a strategic approach to the area’s traffic, urban character, and environment.

An independent cost estimate has been prepared with a total estimated cost of $5.7m for work that can be staged over a number of financial years. The largest cost component covers the theatre stage extension. This is a very early, high level estimate only and grant funding will be sought.

Based on the feedback from this survey the Regal Theatre Draft Precinct Master Plan will be reviewed and modified as needed.

The community feedback and Draft Precinct Master Plan will be presented Council for endorsement at their meeting on 23 August 2022. Detailed design will then commence from September 2022 to June 2023.