Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Archives

Chopper’s 25th Anniversary Heads to Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace

Photo Credit: Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace/Facebook

The Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace will host a one-night celebration of one of Australia’s most infamous films, giving locals a rare chance to experience Chopper on the big screen with a live performance before the movie begins.

A Cult Classic Returns to the Big Screen

The event will take place on Friday, 22 August, from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm at the historic Cremorne cinema. Tickets start from $35 and include a complimentary beer or cider on arrival.

*Photo Credit: Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace/Facebook*

Andrew Dominik directed the 2000 film Chopper, starring Eric Bana, and many regard it as a standout in Australian cinema for its dark humour and raw depiction of criminal Mark “Chopper” Read.

Comedy Meets Crime Drama

This anniversary screening marks 25 years since its release, offering audiences a chance to revisit the film in a setting that matches its significance. Before the screening, comedian Heath Franklin will appear in character as “Chopper” for a preshow performance.

Heath Franklin’s sharp comedic take on the notorious figure has become a popular part of Australian comedy, providing a light-hearted counterpoint to the film’s gritty tone.

A Community Cinema Experience

The Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, a restored Art Deco venue, is a fixture in the Lower North Shore’s arts scene. Its special events often draw a mix of film enthusiasts, locals, and visitors, reinforcing the cinema’s role as a community gathering place.

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Hosting the Chopper anniversary fits the venue’s tradition of blending classic film screenings with live entertainment.

Booking and Event Details

The anniversary event is rated R18+ due to the film’s content. As a one-night-only screening with limited seating, early booking is recommended through the Orpheum’s website.

The complimentary drink and preshow help make the night more than a film screening, it’s a shared cultural experience for the community.

Published 11-August-2025

Film Screening in Cremorne Sheds Light on Sensitive Topic

A powerful documentary on intrafamilial childhood sexual abuse, “Such a Resounding Silence,” will be screened at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne, aiming to lift the veil on the often-silenced issue of incest in Australia.

Event Details

The screening, presented by The CorriLee Foundation, is scheduled for 16th September 2024. Light refreshments will be served from 5:45 p.m. to 6:20 p.m., and the main proceedings will begin at 6:30 p.m. Jennifer Byrne will host the event, which will feature keynote speeches by Grace Tame, CEO and Founder of the Grace Tame Foundation, and Jean Kittson. Both speakers will address the difficult topic of child sexual abuse and incest, encouraging a community-wide conversation about this sensitive issue.

About the Film

“Such a Resounding Silence,” originally titled “Un Silence si Bruyant,” is a documentary by French actress Emmanuelle Béart, co-directed by Anastasia Mikova. Béart, known for her roles in “Manon of the Springs” and “Mission: Impossible,” recently revealed that she is an incest survivor.

Through this film, Béart aims to challenge the societal taboos that keep such experiences hidden. The documentary includes a mix of first-person accounts and ensemble voices, providing a platform for survivors to speak out against the silence and shame surrounding incest.

The film explores the harsh realities of child sexual abuse, focusing on France, where a child is sexually victimised every three minutes. Béart, initially hesitant to share her own story, highlights the profound impact of the silence that is often imposed on victims by their abusers, which can manifest in various destructive ways.

Community Involvement and Awareness

The CorriLee Foundation, through events like this screening and their “No Laughing Matter” podcast series, seeks to bring attention to the alarming statistics of incest and the experiences of survivors. The podcast features narrators such as Ray Martin, Jean Kittson, Hugo Weaving, Grace Tame, Heather Mitchell, Jennifer Byrne, Andrew Denton, Rev Bill Crews, Adam Hills, Chrissie Swan, and Wil Anderson, all contributing to the discussion about these critical issues.

Event organisers call on the Cremorne community and beyond to attend the screening and participate in the conversation. They believe that ending the silence around child sexual abuse is essential for creating a supportive environment for survivors and driving societal change.

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Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne in Top 50 Most Beautiful Cinemas in the World

Stepping into the doors of the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne is like stepping back in time to the grand old days of cinema. Built in 1935, this well-known art deco building has recently been named one of the Top 50 Most Beautiful Cinemas in the World.

Time Out has listed Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace as 24th on their list of the world’s most gorgeous theatres, singling out the stunning structure as the “grandest cinema” in Sydney. One of its most appealing features is a genuine Wurlitzer pipe organ that emerges from the orchestra pit during weekend evening screenings.

Designed by George Kenworthy, one of Sydney’s top 20th-century architects, the Orpheum took nine months to construct and swiftly became one of the region’s best art deco buildings. It started off as a two-level 135-seater cinema for film and musical buffs and eventually became a premier events place until the 1940s. At the back of the cinema were several dressing rooms for live presentations and its very own fly-tower for flying scenes during ballets or theater productions.

The Orpheum’s popularity, however, dipped during the mid-century as the building aged and was closed for some time. In the 1970s, a commercial developer bought the property but and turned it into a shopping arcade with a gym, despite protests from the public.

In 1986, Mike Walsh (OBE), a well-known TV personality and businessman, took ownership of The Orpheum under the Hayden Group of Companies. He worked with historians and designers to restore the building to its former glory.

The restoration was done in several stages to expand the main cinema (Orpheum) to accommodate 755 seats. Also, 180 seats were added to the Lounge Cinema. The building’s original and ornate art deco details were restored whilst mood lighting and elaborate carpet designs were added. The ceiling was also modified to complement the artistic design. The cinema reopened a year after construction started.

Today, the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace is a six-screen complex with the latest equipment and technology. However, its architecture will always be a wonderful reminder of The Golden Age, a time when going to the cinema was a glamorous event.

28 International Films Coming to Cremorne for Sydney Film Festival

The 66th Sydney Film Festival is happening on June 5th until June 16th 2019. For 12 days and nights, get ready to watch and enjoy various exciting works from various filmmakers across the globe.

Screening more than 200 films not usually found in movie theatres, entries for the Sydney Film Festival (SFF) will be showcased at seven cinemas across Sydney, including the opulent Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace at Cremorne.

Other festival venues are as follows:

The State Theatre
Event Cinemas George Street
Dendy Opera Quays
Dendy Newtown
Randwick Ritz
HOYTS Entertainment Quarter
Art Gallery of NSW
Casula Powerhouse

SFF at Orpheum Picture Palace

For this year’s Sydney Film Festival, the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace will screen 28 festival-feature-length films for audiences on Sydney’s North Shore.

Included amongst the list of films are The White Crow, The Third Wife, Queen of Hearts, Kursk, The Tale of Three Sisters, Never Look Away, and Palm Beach.

Click here to view the list of featured festival films on their available time slots at the Orpheum Picture Palace. Tickets are now on sale too! For ticket inquiries, please call 1300 733 733 or visit Sydney Film Festival for more information.