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<p>This group was founded in 1949 by Chrysostomos Mantouridis ( Χρυσόστομος Μαντουρίδης ), a Greek-Cypriot born in Cairo, Egypt in 1915. In 1949, after being immersed in the artistic circles of the Greek Community in Egypt, with the likes of poet Konstantinos Kavafis, he migrated to Australia and founded this community-based theatre group under the name of the Theatre Group of Greeks in Sydney ( Θεατρικός Όμιλος Ελλήνων του Σύδνευ ), possibly the oldest Greek community theatre group in Australia.</p>
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<p>From the beginning, the group was purely community orientated and it acted as a meeting point between newly arrived Greek migrants and the Greek-Australian locals. Play readings and rehearsals were taking place in people’s houses and garages. A theatrical venue of large capacity was used to stage early productions usually one-off performances. This first period, from 1950 to 1962 was described by C. Mantouridis as a time for exploring and experimenting. Towards the end of 1962, taking a more serious and mature approach, the group reinvented itself and changed its name to Hellenic Theatrical Group ( Συγκρότημα Ελλήνων Καλλιτεχνών - <strong>ΣΕΚ</strong> ), as it is known today. This second period was from 1963 until 1979 and it was a more productive period with a long list of productions, with a specific mention of the play Christopher Columbus by Nikos Kazantzakis ( up to then considered “unstageable” ) in its world premiere, in 1972.</p>
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<p>Since the death of its founder in 1980, the Hellenic Theatrical Group fulfilling his wishes of having a permanent rehearsal space has been located and been operating in a number of venues around the greater Marrickville area, with a member Management Committee responsible for the group’s artistic direction. A number of people have acted as Chair of the Management Committee over the years but two, in particular, deserve a special mention: the late Angelo Adam, one of Mantouridis’ closest mentees and the longest serving member, deserving his title of honorary President; and our last Chair, Kon Strafiotis, who led the group to seek new and innovative forms of expression, away from “theatrical clichés”, true to the courageous and indomitable spirit of the group’s founder.</p>
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<p>Over the years the group evolved and eventually became a not-for-profit incorporated association in 1993, also a registered charity, and changed its name to Hellenic Theatre Incorporated, a name under which is operating and is known today.</p>
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<p>Hellenic Theatre Inc. now comprises of first and second-generation Greek-Australians who promote and maintain Greek heritage, culture and language in the diaspora. It continues to stage plays, in Greek, English and bilingual, from a worldwide repertoire, from ancient Greek drama and comedy to locally written plays.</p>
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<p>Hellenic Theatre Inc. has faithfully served local theatre and the arts in general and has been involved in staging theatre productions, musical events, lectures as well as various painting and photography exhibitions. It boasts more than 100 productions over the years from the time it was founded in 1949 and continues to honour the legacy of its founder.</p>
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<p><strong><em>“The theatre infects the audience with its noble ecstasy.”</em></strong></p>
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<p><em><strong>“Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art.”</strong></em></p>
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<p><strong><em>Konstantin Stanislavski</em></strong></p>
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