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The Order of the Star of the East was advertisements for film screenings at the
established where he and other members theatre have been located.
moved into a grand harbourside manor at
A world apart was the Balmoral
Amphitheatre, sometimes called the Star Clifton Gardens and, soon after, began the Enid Lorimer, an English actress came to
Amphitheatre in Sydney. Balmoral is a construction of the magnificent Star Australia as director of the passion plays to be
harbourside suburb and faces The Heads. It Amphitheatre. performed at the Amphitheatre, and was
was here, on a rugged clifffside, similar to given the title The Angel of the Order of the
Minack, a religious group decided to build a But Leadbeater and Besant were plagued by Star of the East. She was to produce plays in
spectacular 2,000 seat Greek theatre to scandals, some again involving young boys, the Greek style. Just how involved she
welcome the coming of the New Messiah. and their protégé, Krishnamurtri, convinced remained is not known, but Enid went on to
When He didn’t arrive, it was used for he was not the New Messiah, left the become a noted actress in Australian theatre
vaudeville, concert and performance, and later movement and returned to India and later the and also appeared in many television shows,
left to fall into ruins. If it had survived and United States. Nevertheless, in July 1923, including the early series Motel.
been utilised in much the same manner as the Bishop Leadbeater laid the foundation stone
Minack Theatre, what a venue – and tourist of the theatre. It was reported that it was The Amphitheatre opened on Sunday,
attraction – it would have been. originally intended to have an elaborate 19 October, 1924. It was stated that its design
ceremony but the arrangements were was based on the Greek Theatre at Berkeley
The group was known as the Order of the Star suddenly cancelled and the function was made University, California. Its outlook was
of the East. It was stated at the time that it was a private one. Those wishing to purchase a certainly a spectacular one, probably one of
an off--shoot of the Theosophical Society, but seat to see the Second Coming could do so for the most spectacular in the world at that time.
the latter today denies this. Charles £10 for front row seats. The theatre looked out
Leadbeater had been in the Anglican Church across Middle Harbour to Sydney Heads, But controversy continued to plague
in England when he joined the Theosophical through which the Messiah was expected to Leadbeater and his followers. In 1929,
Society in 1883 and toured many countries arrive. Krishnamurtri dissolved the Order of the Star
preaching the second coming of the Messiah. of the East, and hopes of the Second Coming
He then ordained himself as a Bishop in the The money to build the theatre came from began to fade. Dr Mary Rocke died in 1927,
Liberal Catholic Church. But in 1906 scandal members but also from a wealthy local, and Leadbeater himself died in March 1934
erupted over his association with a 14 year old Dr Mary Rocke. In October 1924, it was whilst in Fremantle, en route to India. He left
boy and he resigned from the society. Along announced that the theatre was finished and an estate of only £60, mainly of books and his
with a London woman named Annie Besant, the public would have the opportunity view it regalia.
who had been persuaded by his dominating at a meeting and lecture entitled “Who is He
personality, they travelled to India, where a Whom we Expect?” It had previously been In 1930, it was announced that the
14 year old boy, Krishnamurti, was stated that the theatre would also be used for Amphitheatre was to be turned into a
discovered. Leadbeater tutored him and took wireless concerts, moving pictures and miniature golf course. The Order still stated
him to London and in 1914, to Sydney. theatricals, and possibly even boxing. No that the New Messiah would arrive in about

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