From Italy to the stage: Bringing family history to life

Back in 2019, before the COVID pandemic, a local Melbourne playwright became curious about her rich Italian heritage. Her travels with Ormina Tours to explore her family history were just the start of an exciting and emotional story.

Marita Wilcox is an esteemed actor, director, and playwright based in Melbourne, Australia. On behalf of Marita Wilcox’s 90-year-old mother, Rina Codognotto, she decided to explore her family’s history in Italy with the help of Ormina Tours.

Tracing the Family History

With the invaluable assistance of Ormina Tours historical researcher and genealogists her research has helped to uncover several revelations that expose why her grandfather Giuseppe left Italy in search of a new life in a new country.

“I found it fascinating that Claudio (historical researcher) revealed so many facts about our family that we did not know… His attention to detail was more than perfect. He is a great credit to Ormina.”

– Marita Wilcox, August 2019.

Ormina Tours researchers helped put together the missing pieces of the Codognotto family jigsaw. And with this invaluable information Marita has written a play detailing her families establishment in Australia.

Marita and her family at the Codognotto family household

Bringing wine to the table

When Marita’s grandfather Giuseppe Codognotto migrated to Melbourne, Australia in 1924, he and his brother opened an Italian Club and bar in the back streets of Melbourne. This haven for Italians flourished and in 1932 he decided to open a restaurant on Bourke St. The Italian Society Restaurant.

1932 The Italian Society restaurant opens in Bourke Street

Having worked in the kitchens of noble families back in Italy, he was cooking the finest cuisine for the elite crowds of the city and it was here that he introduced the concept of combining meals with wine – and the rest is history. Very interesting history full of twists and turns and complications.

Centre stage

The inaugural reading of ‘The Italian Society’ play took place at Melbourne’s La Mama Courthouse in April 2022. After many setbacks, including COVID, it was an emotional and exciting time for Marita, the director Peta Hanrahan and the talented cast, which included a number of family descendants.