About 100 people took the opportunity to test run and measure up the seats yesterday, and added their name to a list of people wanting a slice of Dunedin history for their home.
Theatre manager Sarah Anderson said the response had been "fantastic" but there had been "too much interest" and there would be no guarantees of people getting seats.
Earlier this year, the theatre began selling them for $50 each to raise funds for the development project.
A lack of interest prompted them to halve the price to $25, but with a removal deadline looming, it was decided to give them away.
"In the end, it's great people are able to preserve a bit of history in their homes," she said.
Publicity of the seat giveaway attracted attention from as far afield as Rangiora, where a small theatre was badly damaged in the earthquake and wanted seats for a rebuild.
Other groups, including the Globe Theatre and Arai Te Uru marae, had expressed interest in having some.
The Regent will also keep some for communal facilities back stage, while others will be set aside for Historic Places Trust purposes, Ms Anderson said.
Those who had paid for seats earlier in the year were guaranteed to receive theirs, while those who had put their name down this week would have to wait to see if they would get any.
The next challenge will be removing the seats by October 20, when builders move in.
