RESTORATION LEVY
What is a restoration levy?
Read more below about what a restoration levy is, why we have introduced it, and the improvements it will help support.
ABOUT THE RESTORATION LEVY
A restoration levy is a small contribution included in your ticket price (on all tickets over £10) that helps us take care of and improve the spaces you love. It allows us to keep Ipswich Theatres welcoming, comfortable and ready to give you the best possible experience every time you visit.
At its heart, this is about listening to you. The levy reflects what our audiences tell us matters, from the little touches that make a night out more enjoyable, to bigger improvements that help our venues grow and adapt. It gives us the flexibility to respond, invest and make changes that you can really feel when you’re at our venues.
By contributing, you’re playing a part in shaping the future of our venues. Together, we can continue to enhance the experience for everyone, making each visit even more enjoyable, memorable and uniquely Ipswich.
ABOUT THE REGENT THEATRE
The Regent Theatre opened in 1929 as a cine-variety hall to crowds of nearly 2,000 people who had come from across Ipswich and Suffolk to witness this momentous occasion.
Since then, the Regent Theatre has welcomed a wide range of shows to Ipswich, including some of the biggest names in entertainment, and we believe that the Regent Theatre offers a unique venue for a mixed programme of entertainment.
The Ipswich Regent Theatre is the largest theatre in the East of England, with over 1,500 seats and an incredible programme of touring shows, West End musicals, big-name comedians and intimate ‘evening with’ shows – there’s something for everyone at the Regent Theatre!
But we know – because you’ve told us – that improvements are required to maintain and improve the high-quality experience you expect when visiting the theatre, and to ensure that the Regent Theatre remains at the forefront of Ipswich’s visitor economy for many years to come. We regularly seek feedback from audiences, and the most common comments relate to our toilet provision, venue accessibility and queues to the bar.
To help improve these areas, we undertook a significant refurbishment and redevelopment project to our front of house areas. The restoration levy is used to fund the £3.5 million cost of the project, you can read more about this project here – Front of House Redevelopment.
But the work doesn’t stop there, we’re already looking ahead at the next step for the Theatre looking at what projects are required to continue the future development of the venue.
ABOUT THE CORN EXCHANGE
The Corn Exchange is a much-loved venue at the heart of the town, offering a distinctive setting for a wide range of live events and shared experiences. From music and comedy to talks and special events, it continues to play an important role in Ipswich’s cultural life. You can find out more about the rich history of the Corn Exchange on our history page here.
Today, the venue brings together audiences from across the local area and beyond, creating memorable moments in a space that is full of character and atmosphere.
But we also recognise there’s always more we can do to enhance your experience when you visit. Through ongoing conversations with our audiences and the feedback we receive, we continue to build a clear picture of what matters most, from comfort and accessibility to the overall feel of the venue.
The restoration levy will play an important role in supporting this ongoing work. It gives us the opportunity to invest in the future of the Corn Exchange, helping us respond to your feedback and continue developing the venue in ways that enhance every visit.
We are committed to working alongside our audiences to shape what comes next, ensuring the Corn Exchange continues to grow, adapt and thrive for many years to come.