Hello my lovely friends,

THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST begins this week and is a bold piece of story telling, one that, just as the story being told to the journalist (Liev Schreiber), you must hear to the end.  A poignant piece of drama played out in the courtroom of everyday life, this film puts you in the awkward position of another.  Based on the best-selling novel which was rated as one of the books to define the decade, THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST is riveting, following the story of a young Pakistani man chasing corporate success on Wall Street, ultimately finding himself embroiled in a conflict between his American Dream, a hostage crisis, and the enduring call of his family's homeland. The film is directed by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake, Vanity Fair) and features a powerful cast including Kate Hudson (The Killer Inside Me, Almost Famous), Riz Ahmed (Black Gold, Four Lions), Kiefer Sutherland (24, Melancholia) and Liev Schreiber (Salt, Manchurian Candidate, Mental).

Baz Luhrmann’s THE GREAT GATSBY has opened in the US and took a massive $51 million in the first weekend!  Perhaps that’s a record for an Australian film - and whether it is or not, it’s certainly worth celebrating!  We were treated to tickets to the preview and I think you are going to love GREAT GATSBY.  Leonardo di Caprio is perfect in his role as Gatsby - as are Joel Edgerton and Carey Mulligan, but for me the stand out was Toby Maguire! And of course much of it was filmed here in Manly!  Baz has made five feature films - and they are all great successes with Strictly Ballroom, Australia, Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge!  THE GREAT GATSBY starts next Thursday!

The films we have on at the moment are all exceptional!  And with just a single screen and the stage show MILF on as well as War of the Worlds, and with Great Gatsby starting next week, PLEASE DON’T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THEM!  THE OTHER SON is a beautiful true story holding out the hand of hope and reconciliation - and I LOVE IT!  THE HUNT is a truly powerful film - we have had psychologists, professionals, teachers and others telling us what an important film it is & you should see it!  THE COMPANY YOU KEEP is a tour de force from Robert Redford - an old school political thriller. And SONG FOR MARION is just exquisite.  Don’t wait till their gone - see them now!

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of WAR OF THE WORLDS: Alive on Stage, the New Generation, is coming to the big screen for the first time - and I am PUMPED!  I grew up reading HG WELLS; when Jeff Wayne’s original 1978 double album came out, I was in line for my copy quick smart! It’s still the 38th best selling album of all time in the UK and this stunning re-telling filmed at London's sold-out O2 Arena features the holographic performance of Liam Neeson. Liam interacts with a stellar cast on stage including Jason Donovan, Marti Pellow, Kerry Ellis, Kaiser Chiefs’ Ricky Wilson, Jett Black’s Will Stapleton and 45 musicians conducted by Jeff Wayne.  Saturday 25th May at 5pm, Sunday 26th at 2:45pm & Tuesday 28th at 6:30pm.  Tickets $20, $18, Conc.  Can’t wait to share this with you! 

Tickets for the live stage show MILF THE MUSICAL are stampeding out the door!  Both Friday night and Saturday night are SOLD OUT but the good news is there are still tickets for the matinees on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May, both at 1pm.  Tickets are just $30 - call on 43 821 777 to book your seats.

Only 10 more sleeps till Monica is here! Monica Trapaga’s vast array of talents have ensured she remains a favourite among the pre school set (didn’t we all adore her in Playschool?), while delighting adult audiences as an elite singer. It’s hard to book Monica as she is a jet-setting jazz singer who travels the world and with her husky, sultry voice, she is a feature at all the best festivals.  She is very much looking forward to coming to Avoca and has invited the multi talented George Washingmachine to join her in bringing to life all the swinging hits of the 1940's, including Sweet Georgia Brown, Crazy Rhythm, Baby Its Cold Outside, Frenesi, Avalon and Paper Moon. A wonderful afternoon with Monica and George on Sunday 2nd June at 2pm; just $33.50! Great seats still available!

We’re starting a fabulous new series from the world renowned GLOBE Theatre. The series provide us with a thrilling, up-close experience of the Globe from our comfortable Avoca theatre seats with HENRY V, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW and the sell-out production TWELFTH NIGHT starring Stephen Fry.  HENRY V is currently on stage & receiving rave reviews. ‘This admirably large-spirited & beautifully paced production is a canny, mischievous piece. Handsomely costumed in period, it finds imaginative ways of intermingling blasts of patriotism with its clear-sighted scepticism about war. The comedy is handled with a lovely aplomb, serving to enhance the sense of loss & waste of war.’ Monday 3rd June at 11:30am, Tickets $25 and $23 for conc.  If you’d like a special school screening/price, give me a call!

Our SHOWTIME LUNCHEON’s are a great social day out. After fish & chips and coffee & cake, it’s into the Theatre for some live music from Pianist, Singer, Poet and Composer DORIAN MODE who may even bring us something from his new Nat King Cole Show.  The film for the event is SONG FOR MARION, which I enjoyed so much!  Vanessa Redgrave is superb as you would expect and Terence Stamp gives an extraordinary performance.  And of course Christopher Eccleston (Dr Who) is excellent.  This tale will have tears trickling down your cheeks and leave you with hope and expectations for the future! Our patrons are loving it and I think you will as well! Wed 12th June@11:30am, just $18.50.

The SYDNEY BALALAIKA ORCHESTRA returns to Avoca with their intriguing and authentic traditional Russian instruments & music. They’re an EXCEPTIONAL orchestra and feature a number of extraordinary and rare instruments.  The cimbalom is EXTRAORDINARY!  Bringing fine Russian soloists too!  The Orchestra has a large repertoire of Russian light classical and traditional folk music; their joy is to share their love for the beauty and heart of true Russian music where the mellow, melancholic themes are juxtaposed by the lively and energetic melodrama. 8pm Friday 14th June, just $28. INCREDIBLE!

The London National Theatre’s stage plays on our screens are really hitting the mark!  The next play is Director Jeremy Herrin’s THIS HOUSE with Phil Daniels (Quadrophenia), Charles Edwards (Downton Abbey) Julian Wadham (The Iron Lady), and it’s receiving 4 and 5 Star reviews all over! 'Astute, funny and hugely enjoyable' (Financial Times) and ‘A funny and moving political epic' (The Times).  It's 1974 and the corridors of Westminster ring with the sound of intrigue as Britain's political parties battle to change the future of the nation, whatever it takes. This biting, energetic and critically-acclaimed new play strips politics down to the practical realities of those behind the scenes who roll up their sleeves, and on occasion bend the rules, to manoeuvre a diverse, conflicting ideals.  Monday 17th June 11:30am, tickets $25/ Sen $23.  People are telling me they are keeping Mondays just for our special events!

Last time CARMEN was here from the New York Met Opera I ended up sitting in the second row from the front, there was such a big response to it! And did I love it?  YES! Richard Eyre's hit production of CARMEN stars Elina Garanca as the seductive gypsy Carmen, opposite Roberto Alagna as the obsessed Don Jose, the soldier whose doomed love for Carmen threatens them both.  Thrilling, shocking - colourful, creative, smouldering  and sexy all these words describe the experience that is CARMEN.  Saturday 22nd and Monday 24th June, both at 11:30am; $20 and $18 for Seniors.

If you can’t get to Maastricht to see ANDRE RIEU’s concert this year - come to Avoca Beach Picture Theatre! It always sells out - both at Maastricht & Avoca!  Performed in front of thousands of fans, André is joined by his famous Johann Strauss Orchestra, his Soprano's, Tenors and some very special guests. Sunday July 14th at 12 noon & 4pm.  On sale now for $42.50….don’t miss out, selling FAST!

• Thursday 23rd - THE RELUCTANT INFIDEL begins
• Sat 25th,Sun 26th  & Tues 28th - Jeff Wayne’s WAR OF THE WORLDS Musical
• Fri 24th to Sun 26th - MILF THE MUSICAL Live on Stage.  Fri & Sat night SOLD OUT!
• Thurs 30th May - THE GREAT GATSBY begins
• Sun 2nd June - MONICA TRAPAGA and GEORGE WASHINGMACHINE swing to the 1940’s
• Monday 3rd June - NEW SERIES from The Globe - Shakespeare’s HENRY 5th
• Thurs 6th June - STILL MINE begins
• Wed 12th June - SHOWTIME LUNCHEON with SONG FOR MARION
• Thurs 13th June - TABU begins
• Fri 14th June - SYDNEY BALALAIKA ORCHESTRA
• Mon 17th June - London National Theatre’s THIS HOUSE
• Sat 22nd & Mon 24th June - New York Met’s CARMEN
• Sat 6th & Mon 8th July - Helen Mirren in London National Theatre’s THE AUDIENCE
• Sunday 14th July - ANDRE RIEU Concert via satellite

See you very soon my lovely friends at the Theatre, or in our little Beth’s Giftware Shop at Erina Fair near the Post Office and Cold Rock Icecream!  

So looking forward to sharing a film with you,

Beth