Hellenic Theatre (ΣΕΚ) , established in 1949, is the oldest Greek-Australian Theatre Company in Australia. Active for almost six decades, the company has staged many successful productions.

Hellenic Theatre, a non-profit organisation, is dedicated to dealing with multi-cultural issues, supporting local talent, creating opportunities for new artists and keeping the Greek culture and language alive.

In the past we have been funded by: the Australia Council; Carnivale; The Greek Ministry of Culture and The Greek Festival of Sydney.

Hellenic Theatre attracts a large and multi-generational audience within the Greek-Australian community, as well as the wider Australian community, by producing original, varied and contemporary Greek-Australian productions.

Over the years, we have successfully participated in major events and Festivals, such as: Carnivale; The Greek Festival of Sydney and the Multicultural Theatre Festival and have also taken shows to Newcastle, Wollongong and Melbourne.

To stage theatrical productions which inspire, nurture, challenge and empower artists and audiences alike and to play a key role in creating a platform for exploring and giving a voice to multi-cultural issues, with particular relevance to the Greek/Australian community.

In the late 1940’s visionary Chrisostomos Mantouridis, a Greek-Cypriot, left a cosmopolitan Egypt and migrated to Australia. A passionate theatre-lover, Mantouridis’ arrival in Australia would ignite theatre in Sydney’s newly emerging Greek Community. Amongst the boat-loads of post-war Greeks arriving in Australia he found an eager audience who wanted to hear stories told in their mother language.

A master of many hats, in 1949 Mantouridis formed Hellenic Theatre (ΣΕΚ). He would often direct, design and perform in most of Hellenic Theatre’s sold-out shows. With his immense vision, talent and ability to draw together actors, performers, musicians, writers and artists, Mantouridis created a theatrical family that presented the classics including Shakespeare and Brecht, in Greek.

Attracting talented people to Hellenic Theatre was not a problem for Mantouridis and quickly a strong ensemble was formed, that even after his death in 1980, still continues to resonate in spirit through the Greek-Australian community.

Hellenic Theatre, now a non-profit organization, is dedicated to dealing with multicultural issues, supporting local talent, creating opportunities for new artists and keeping the Greek culture and language alive.

Original Hellenic Theatre Logo designed by Chrisostomos Mantouridis (right)

C. Mantouridis and Cast, HECUBA 1971