For years, the curtain on a once-praised Richmond theatre stayed closed - but now, Greater Western Sydney's iconic Regent Theatre has officially re-opened its doors, and if the sold-out launch weekend is anything to go by, it was well worth the wait.
The official re-opening weekend on 1–2 May drew sold-out crowds on both nights, with Australian country music rising star Sara Berki, joined by Golden Guitar winner William Alexander and local support act Ellerie Rose - kicking things off on Friday as part of Great Southern Nights 2026. Saturday's headline slot went to rock legend Ian Moss, whose performance set the tone for what the new owners hope will be a long and thriving new era for the venue.
"It's just fantastic to be invited to do this, in a world of shrinking festivals and live venues," Moss said after the show. "It's fabulous to see another venue pop up, and such an iconic one like the one we have here in The Regent Theatre in Richmond."
The theatre has been part of Hawkesbury life since 1935, originally built by the Walsh family and later purchased and restored by television personality Mike Walsh AM OBE in 1976. Walsh, who turned it into a combined cinema and live entertainment space, said the venue thrived during World War II thanks to its proximity to the Richmond Air Base before eventually falling quiet in more recent years.
"By the time I stepped in, it was quietly ambling along," Walsh recalled. "I spent a great deal restoring the venue... I wish the current owners all the best for the future of The Richmond Regent."
Those current owners, Michael Dimech and Duncan MacKay, have poured considerable resources into bringing the art deco heritage-listed building back to life. The renovation has delivered a fully modernised venue capable of hosting 518 in theatre configuration or up to 700 in concert mode, with a brand new stage, professional sound and lighting, cinema digital projection, licensed bars across the stalls and dress circle, and artist-friendly dressing rooms and loading facilities.
MacKay said the region was ready for exactly this kind of venue. "Greater Western Sydney is one of the fastest growing urban populations in the country. We've put our heart and soul into bringing The Regent Theatre back to life. It presents a quality new venue for a market that we understand is hungry for local, domestic and international touring entertainment."
The soft opening earlier this year drew another sold-out crowd for Australian singer Michael Paynter, who described the experience as heartening at a time when independent theatres across the country continue to struggle. "To have a team of long-time music lovers so heavily invested in creating a magical local space for the community to see music performed with such world class facilities, is so heartening," he said. "It was a pleasure to perform at The Regent, and I look forward to it again."
Programming and venue consultant Brett Hlywa of Sound Advice Music said the opening weekend reflected the venue's broader ambition. "Our aim is to curate a diverse program of live events that support both emerging and established artists — and connect them with our growing audience in Greater Western Sydney."
The calendar ahead already suggests the Regent is serious about that promise. Upcoming shows include the Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase Tour, Ben Lee, Kate Ceberano, The Robertson Brothers, Anh Do and Tim Freedman.
Tickets and show information are available at theregentrichmond.com.au or via @theregentrichmond on social media.
