As redevelopment works get underway, we’re asking the public to share ideas, from memories and stories to photos, objects, or memorabilia, that capture what the Regent Theatre means to you and the wider community.

The time capsule will be sealed during the final stages of the theatre’s redevelopment and when reopened in the future it will give generations to come a glimpse into the theatre’s vibrant history and its importance within the community.

Works aimed at enhancing the customer experience at the Grade II listed theatre, with a strong focus on comfort, inclusivity, and accessibility, are set to complete in December, just in time for the grand reopening with the festive pantomime Cinderella, running from 12 to 31 December 2025.

Councillor Jane Riley, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Culture and Customers, said:

“With redevelopment works well underway and exciting improvements set to transform the experience for our audiences, we’re delighted to be creating a time capsule for future generations to discover.

“This is a special opportunity to capture the spirit of the Ipswich Regent Theatre and its place in the heart of Ipswich. We’re inviting the public to have their say and suggest meaningful items that reflect their personal memories or the theatre’s impact on the community.

“One of the items we’ll be including is a newspaper from 4^th November 1959, marking the Regent’s 30th birthday – a wonderful piece of history that reminds us just how loved this venue has been for generations.”

If you have any ideas of what we could include in our time capsule, please submit them here – https://my.ipswich.gov.uk/service/Ipswich_Theatres___Through_the_years_. The closing date for submission is Sunday 31 August 2025.

Full details of the project are available here.