Regent Theatre — Attraction in Stoke-on-Trent

What an evening of two halves! Went to see Bill Bailey on Thursday 28th August and he was outstanding. My family left the theatre via an exit that led out into the street. My daughter wanted to see if there was any merchandise available so we walked to the front of the theatre and walked back in. The doors of the foyer were wide open and the security guards were standing to one side. I was first to the top of the stairs and looked over to the merchandise area and could see that there was nothing there so turned to walk back down the stairs to meet my family walking up. Over my shoulder I heard screaming of “Excuse Me! Excuse Me!” I did not for a second think it had anything to do with me so I continued out of the theatre. However the screaming was suddenly right behind my head. So I turned around and a large built middle aged woman with straight brown hair was in my face and screamed “What do you want?!” I was shocked to realise that she was an employee of the theatre. Somewhat bemused I said “We have just come out of the show and were wondering if there was any merchandise to buy as a memento”. She then proceeded to shout in my face and gesticulated wildly with her arms “There is no merchandise! Nothing! None!”. I should have said something in return but I was so shocked that I just walked away. However once outside a small group of patrons who had seen what had gone on said they had just received similar treatment. They had ascertained from other patrons that someone may have been taken ill inside the theatre and an ambulance had been called. So basically the Theatre were allowing patrons back into the theatre, not informing them of any problem but then screaming into their face when they were there! Thoroughly unpleasant! Put a complaint in with the Regent but as seems to always be the case - no reply. Was coming back to watch the panto and a couple of other shows but won’t be now because if I want to be screamed at by a big unit of a woman I don’t need to pay over £150 for the privilege - I’ll just find the local...

Went to see Shrek the matinee musical with my mother in law and grandchildren. Then my nieces etc went to the evening show as these 10 tickets were Xmas gifts. I had seen this show in London and had been one of my favourites. BUT.. this production was terrible the acting was awful. Costumes were hanging off them they looked worn and dirty and the acting was just like watching a school play.. the venue had been filled by random town shoppers to fill the seats and at less than half price that we paid we were disgusted. The men in front blocked our views and it was a bad experience. People left the show in the interval and we changed seats although we’d wanted to leave also. It was hot in there as the air con gets turned off through the show and back on in the interval to purchase extortionate priced ice creams and drinks.. it is a big rip off. We got insect bites followed by 6 members getting Covid a few days later.. I complained straight away and it’s took up till today to get a reply from Darren Knap….. he knows who he is without putting his full name. Who basically calls me a liar and who has now lost a family from ever returning to HIS ( thinks it’s his) theatre.. he could of apologised to my bad feedback and given a voucher as a gesture. But no he writes a big reply stating we didn’t experience what I’d said including insect bites that we all got from there and dismissed my complaint. Well done and goodbye stoke thestre. Anyone going there will see from there own future experience that i was...

It's rare I bother to make a negative review but in this case it's merited. I bought a ticket as a gift for my mother, and saw the option for 3 quid extra to buy a cancellation insurance. "Great!" I thought. "If she can't go I can simply cancel" But not so it seems. Turns out my ma is on hols that week, and so I thought ok, I'll swap the ticket for something else. Even pay the extra for some seats at the Chicago show. Straightforward, you'd think, no? Not on your bloody nelly! The "insurance" I paid for is good for international disasters, wars and death, and doesn't even guarantee those unless you can upload proof lol. So I try to get a number, thinking, "the box office will understand - I want to pay more, not get a refund, anyway". But no, you can't speak to the box office, only a 08something number that costs more than the ticket by the time you get through. Last ditch effort, I contact "customer services" who confirm there is absolutely sod all anyone is prepared to do to give me any service. I WANT TO PAY EXTRA FOR A DIFFERENT TICKET and get a rebate of the one I bought. So, suffice to say, I'm not happy. It's not a lot of money, but that's not the bloody point now is it? Shoddy service. Disappointing response from customer services. And what's most annoying, a complete rip off where they con you into paying 3 quid extra for a totally useless insurance for...