IT'S a week to go and it's on schedule and on time. That was the verdict today of theatre bosses celebrating as the finishing touches are put to the £500,000 refurbishment of Ipswich's Regent Theatre.

IT'S a week to go and it's on schedule and on time.

That was the verdict today of theatre bosses celebrating as the finishing touches are put to the £500,000 refurbishment of Ipswich's Regent Theatre.

Inside the theatre it is stylish and smart. Gone are the 78-year-old seats, gone is the red faded colour scheme and gone is the old carpet which has seen better days.

Theatre project manager Justin Smith said: “The carpet is down, the painting is completed and the final seats are going in. We are on schedule and on budget.

“We started 13 weeks ago and we will be ready for the launch next week. We are now putting the finishing touches to the refurbishment.”

The refurbishment, which includes a new lighting system for the auditorium, has been funded by Ipswich Borough Council.

Theatre manager Hazel Clover said the project had solved a number of problems.

She said: “The iron casing for the seats was in danger of collapse and there had been much patching done over the years.

“They had become increasingly uncomfortable and maintaining them and the capacity of the auditorium had become cost ineffective.

“The Regent needed freshening up. We believe it was still the original paint from the 1920s.”

Miss Clover said the blue colour scheme had been decided after asking other theatres about the best tones to use.

She added: “The dressing rooms were refurbished in 2005 and this refurbishment is crucial to the continued cultural services of the town.

“The regent is an important landmark for Ipswich and we are delighted we can now provide such an enjoyable environment for our customers.”

Due to open to customers for the first time on September 17, singer Daniel O'Donnell will be the first performer to play the refurbished theatre as well as open The Regent's autumn season.

Miss Clover said: “We are delighted an old friend of The Regent will open our season in the refurbished theatre.”

The theatre will be opening its doors for the public to have a look at the refurbishment on Saturday September 15 from 10am to 4pm.

Are you a regular at The Regent? What do you think of the refurbishment? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk