Mandolin Cinema

AnthonyLeKoala on August 27, 2024 at 4:06 am

I remember a school excursion to the theatre then known as the Richbrooke Theatre.

It was a religious school so the excursion was for performance Godspell.

The price of the ticket was $2.00.

It was a long walk from the entrance past the box office to the foyer of the theatre.

There were no curtains for the opening and end of the performance.

It was disappointing that the set was a cheap and nasty wire fence with the musicians above and behind the wire fence.

I was expecting to see a more elaborate set like a desert scene in Bethlehem or River Jordan or Mount Calvary where Jesus was crucified.

In the latter scene, the song had somber lyrics “…oh Lord I’m bleeding…oh Lord I’m dying…” with a slow mournful reprise of “Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord”.

The performers and musicians more than made than enough for want of lack of sets.

In one scene the song was “Turn Back O Man”. The performer made her way into the audience and sat on a brother’s lap. The brother was one of the teachers accompanying us students.

The performer incorrectly called the brother “Father”, although he was wearing the same clerical clothing as a priest.

Even though the the auditorium had no curtains, here is a photo of the auditorium with curtains.

Photo of the auditorium curtains closed https://archives.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/568870

Since the purchase in 1999 by the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, the auditorium has been restored to its original historical status.

Gone are the wide proscenium and veneers of the side walls. The only modern additions are the green ‘Exit’ signs to the left and right exit doors.

Photo of auditorium restored to original https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipPCidfgG7BvpPqk9yCXWkNcapPvXf_dBW5Qdj2a=s864-w824-h864 photo by Ramadevi Pepakayala

Thanks

davidcoppock on October 13, 2020 at 7:18 am

Heritage listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2/4/1999. Heritage listed on the Australian National Heritage List on 20/5/2008. The building is now owned and run by tne Metropolitan Aboriginal Association. The name Australia Hall is still on tne front of the building.

tedgz on September 23, 2013 at 7:07 am

Saw some great independent films here in the 1980’s and early 90’s. Good times.

John Gaspar on February 24, 2013 at 8:59 pm

It was Dave’s Encore Cinema for a few years from early 1981 to perhaps 1983 (?) Unfortunately there’s almost nothing online about Dave’s, just some archives newspaper articles. Sad.