Inverell Times, Wednesday, 29 March 2006

BINGARA will this week play host to some world-class theatre and a whole range of Weather.

The Railway Street Theatre Company begins its NSW tour of Weather after the successful premiere earlier this month in the Q theatre at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith.

Bingara's Roxy theatre will present patrons with excellent choices as it begins the new season of live performances and celebratory events.

Written by Gary Baxter and directed by Jennifer Hagan, this often poignant, often hilarious, production invites you into the heart of a relationship that has endured 50 years.

Julia Blake and Terry Norris, two of Australia's most distinguished actors, appear alongside Michelle Doake and Jo Turner in this candid and moving tale.

Weather is the first of a three-event program extravaganza to celebrate The Roxy Theatre's 70th anniversary, beginning tomorrow.

Theatregoers are encouraged to buy their tickets early as the interest in the program has been high.

Gwydir Shire's tourist officer at Bingara, Jenny Mead, has been busy taking bookings for the live production and The Roxy Movie Ball, featuring jazz band Hollywood Hombres, on Saturday.

Bookings and for more information phone Jenny, 6724 0066.

The Roxy Theatre was founded by Peter Feros, George Psaltis and Emanuel Aroney after they came to Australia from the Greek Island of Kythera in the early 1920s.

They formed the partnership of Peter's and Co Bingara.

The Roxy was a beautiful art deco building and created much excitement at the time.

Unfortunately for The Roxy, life as a film theatre only spanned 22 years from 1936.

The Roxy closed and remained dormant for more than 40 years.

In 1999, it was bought by the then Bingara Shire Council and supported by some keen community members and with financial assistance from Federal and State Government grants the resurrection of The Roxy began.

Officially re-opened in May 2004 and now a cultural icon for Bingara, The Roxy is dedicating a photographic display and plaque to the founders, so that their foresight may be honoured.

Peter Prineas, grandson of Peter Feros, has allowed Gwydir Shire to copy the original photographs and to display them permanently in The Roxy.

Mr Prineas will launch his book Katsehamos and the Great Idea: a true story of Greeks and Australians in the early twentieth century, on Saturday.

The book launch will precede the photo dedication and Roxy Movie Ball as the crowd gathers at 6pm to continue to be amazed by this grand building and incredible past.

Movie characters, evening dress, dancing, fun and laughter will all add to the character of the setting.

The final part of the celebration program unfolds on Sunday morning with the screening of nostalgic films.

From Showboat to Granddad Rudd, the first major film and the second week's viewing from the screen of 1936, will be back on the big screen.

Two George Miller films, Babe and Mad Max will also feature.

All screenings will be free of admission charges.


See also:

Speech introducing Bob Carr at the Sydney launch

Review(s) of the book

Professor Janis Wiltons' speech, Bingara book launch

Details of the Bingara book launch, photograph unveiling, and 70th Anniversary Ball

Founders photographs unveiled, Roxy, Bingara

Flyer_-_Roxy_70th_Anniversary.pdf

Kytherians flocked to Bingara from everywhere

Peter Feros's descendants

Descendants and freinds of Roxy Theatre founder, Peter Feros


The book Katsehamos and the Great Idea is available from the publisher,
Plateia Press,
32 Calder Road, Darlington, NSW,
or email here
phone (02) 9319 1513
and also from Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Road, Glebe NSW, 2037 and selected bookshops.

Katsehamos and the Great Idea is also available in the New England and Northwest region of NSW, from the Roxy Theatre, Maitland Street, Bingara.
Phone: 02 67240003
or email here

For further information
Phone: Sydney, (02) 9319 1513
Mobile: 0429 322 857