Theatre closed to the public for 10 years placed on 'at risk' register

A theatre closed to the public for the last 10 years has been listed as "at risk" for the second time. The Regent Theatre, nestled in the heart of Great Yarmouth, has been placed on the Theatres at Risk register by the Theatres Trust, which identifies venues in danger of closure, redevelopment or falling into serious disrepair. The Edwardian gem has been closed since 2016 when it was purchased by Global Miracle Gospel Ministries, a London-based church group, for £215,000. The group has used the building primarily for Sunday church services. The Regent Theatre in Great Yarmouth has been closed to the public for 10 years. The theatre is one of 39 across the UK that have been placed on the "at risk" register, amid warnings they face ongoing threat from deterioration and lack of use. Joshua McTaggart, chief executive of Theatres Trust, said: "Theatres Trust urges theatre owners, operators and local authorities to reach out to us before concerns become crises." Earlier this year it was revealed that a section of the Regent could potentially reopen as a food bank, though no planning application has been submitted. Parts of the building have reportedly been restored, including the roof, flooring, air conditioning, and central heating, but the theatre remains shut to the general public. The Theatres Trust has said the Regent Theatre in Great Yarmouth is at risk of further disrepair. The building served as a theatre and cinema from 1914 to 1982 and welcomed acts including Ken Dodd and Roy Hudd onto the stage. A scheme to turn the theatre into a multiplex in 1982 did not come to fruition and a new owner was sought. A campaign by the Great Yarmouth Mercury resulted in the building being grade II listed, meaning it could not be altered in any way without planning consent. Mecca Bingo stepped in and transformed it into a bingo hall, which closed in December 2015, before it briefly reopened as a nightclub until its doors shut again in 2016. The theatre was first placed on the "at risk" register in 2022.