La Boite Theatre Company
Encyclopedia
La Boite Theatre Company is a major Australian theatre company based in Brisbane
, Queensland
. La Boite is the second largest theatre company in Queensland
. Established in 1925, it occupies an important place in Queensland’s cultural history. It is known for its bold, contemporary approach towards theatrical texts, and its development of new Australian work. Its declared mission is to "produce and present exhilarating theatre that is alive to the present, extends and inspires artists, and invigorates the hearts and minds of audiences".
La Boite's mainstage production series is augmented by presentations of independent theatre work. In 2010, there were eleven productions, as well as various creative development and education programs.
La Boite is based at Brisbane’s Roundhouse Theatre, Australia’s only purpose-built theatre-in-the-round. Located in the Creative Industries Precinct of the Queensland University of Technology
in Kelvin Grove
. It seats 400, or 340 in thrust staging. The company moved into this new venue in February 2004, leaving its smaller theatre-in-the-round building in Hale Street, Milton, where it had been since 1972.
The current Artistic Director of La Boite is David Berthold
, who took up his role in November 2008. Previous Artistic Directors include Sean Mee (2000–2008) and Sue Rider (1993–2000).
. La Boite Indie is a curated season of four independent productions, each of three weeks. The space is offered rent-free to independent theatre companies and artists, and La Boite contributes financial, technical, marketing and artistic assistance. It has become a much-needed new platform for independent work in Brisbane.
La Boite Indie
, Eileen Beatson and Muriel Watson. The repertoire of the company changed to a more radical, non-mainstream one. Australian plays became a regular feature of the season.
designing the new La Boite Theatre. Blocksidge established her eventual aim to make La Boite a professional theatre company through the establishment in 1973 of the first professional 'theatre-in-education' team in Queensland , the Early Childhood Drama Project (ECDP), and the 1976 appointment of La Boite’s first salaried Artistic Director, Rick Billinghurst. Billinghurst embarked on a program of Australian and overseas works.
Malcolm Blaylock was appointed artistic director in 1980, when La Boite became a 'pro-am' theatre company. The early 1980s was a buoyant time for La Boite and for the pro-am or professional community theatre companies funded by the Australia Council. Blaylock programmed innovative, risky, and politically challenging Australian and non-Australian plays. The appointment in mid-1982 of Andrew Ross as Artistic Director brought La Boite into more professional main-house repertoire. By 1983, the company had lost both state and federal funding. The following years were considered financially trying for La Boite, but a huge effort by the Council and ‘resident directors’ Mike Bridges and Mary Hickson kept the company and theatre afloat. The 1986 appointment of Jim Vilé as both artistic director and CEO was a time of a more ‘open door’ programming at La Boite where “every day and evening of every month of the Theatre’s year was accounted for with a production of some kind…”
Patrick Mitchell took over from Vilé as Artistic Director in 1990. By 1991, the stress of running such a vibrant pro-am theatre company proved too much and David Bell took over as Artistic Director later in that year. Bell’s innovative cross arts approach to theatre saw the beginning of La Boite as a professional company and produced performances which blended circus, opera and modern dance with theatre. Although the innovative fusion of Bell's work gained critical and artistic success, La Boite once again was financially floundering. However, the appointment in 1993 of Sue Rider as Artistic Director saw a period of unparalleled growth once again bolstered the performance of new Australian and Rider’s commitment to Queensland artists.
’s Kelvin Grove Campus. Mee’s Artistic Directorship saw the company both artistically and financially reap the benefits of embracing primarily programming new Queensland works commissioned through La Boite. In 2008, Mee surprised the Brisbane theatre scene by relinquishing his position of Artistic Director. Despite the initial trials with the company, including the Australia Council
cutting funding to the company, David Berthold took up the position of Artistic Director, and under his leadership the company has broadened its scope to include international works in its programming whilst retaining the company’s over 85 year commitment to fostering Queensland and Australian theatre. Berthold's efforts with the company have been heralded as having "completely repositioned a Brisbane institution [La Boite]", and has garnered several prominent awards, including numerous winnings of the prestigious Matilda Awards
.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. La Boite is the second largest theatre company in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. Established in 1925, it occupies an important place in Queensland’s cultural history. It is known for its bold, contemporary approach towards theatrical texts, and its development of new Australian work. Its declared mission is to "produce and present exhilarating theatre that is alive to the present, extends and inspires artists, and invigorates the hearts and minds of audiences".
La Boite's mainstage production series is augmented by presentations of independent theatre work. In 2010, there were eleven productions, as well as various creative development and education programs.
La Boite is based at Brisbane’s Roundhouse Theatre, Australia’s only purpose-built theatre-in-the-round. Located in the Creative Industries Precinct of the Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology is an Australian university with an applied emphasis in courses and research. Based in Brisbane, it has 40,000 students, including 6,000 international students, over 4,000 staff members, and an annual budget of more than A$750 million.QUT is marketed as "A...
in Kelvin Grove
Kelvin Grove, Queensland
Kelvin Grove is an inner northern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia located approximately 3 km from the CBD. This hilly suburb takes its name from Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow, Scotland. It is primarily residential with tree-lined streets and some commercial and light industrial...
. It seats 400, or 340 in thrust staging. The company moved into this new venue in February 2004, leaving its smaller theatre-in-the-round building in Hale Street, Milton, where it had been since 1972.
The current Artistic Director of La Boite is David Berthold
David Berthold
David Berthold is a leading Australian theatre director. He has directed for most of Australia's major theatre companies, as well as internationally. Since November 2008, he has been Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of La Boite Theatre Company...
, who took up his role in November 2008. Previous Artistic Directors include Sean Mee (2000–2008) and Sue Rider (1993–2000).
La Boite's Programs
Apart from its main season of productions, La Boite runs a number of creative development and participation programs.La Boite Indie
Begun in 2010, under the new direction of Artist Director David BertholdDavid Berthold
David Berthold is a leading Australian theatre director. He has directed for most of Australia's major theatre companies, as well as internationally. Since November 2008, he has been Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of La Boite Theatre Company...
. La Boite Indie is a curated season of four independent productions, each of three weeks. The space is offered rent-free to independent theatre companies and artists, and La Boite contributes financial, technical, marketing and artistic assistance. It has become a much-needed new platform for independent work in Brisbane.
La Boite Scratch
New in 2011, this is a platform for low-tech public showings of works in the early stages of development. Five new La Boite Associate Artists are charged with curating a program of ten works, each shown over two nights in La Boite's Rehearsal Room. In 2011, these artists are playwright David Burton, performance educator and director Emma Che Martin, contemporary performance-maker and producer Genevieve Trace, performance-maker Sarah Winter, and dancer and choreographer Liesel Zink.La Boite Learning & Participation
This program creates opportunities for people to take part in theatre making. The company offers 32 weeks of acting master classes for adults, school holiday workshops for young people aged 6–18, professional development workshops for teachers, curriculum-based workshops for school students, internships for tertiary students and recent graduates, and corporate learning workshops for those in business.La Boite's Ambassador program
This is a year-long program for almost 200 high school and tertiary students. Ambassadors attend all productions for free, meet with creative teams, enjoy free workshops through year, learn about La Boite programs, and take a leadership role in introducing the work of La Boite to their peers, schools, and families.The Festival of Australian Student Theatre (FAST)
FAST is a national festival of theatre made by students in tertiary institutions. It was hosted by La Boite in 2010 and returns in 2011. This was the first FAST in almost two decades. Twelve productions from universities across Australia made up the festival in 2010, and fifteen productions in 2011. FAST is run in association with La Boite and QUT Creative Industries. 2011 FAST runs 30 Sept-2 Oct.2011 Season
- The Gruffalo's ChildThe Gruffalo's ChildThe Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is the bestselling sequel to The Gruffalo.The story is about the Gruffalo's daughter who, despite her father's stories, sets off into the woods to discover the 'big bad mouse', which is the only thing her father is afraid of.Throughout her...
based on the picture-book by Julia DonaldsonJulia DonaldsonJulia Catherine Donaldson MBE is an English writer and playwright, best known as author of The Gruffalo and other children's books, many illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Of her 157 published works, 56 are widely available in bookshops...
(5–23 January) - Julius CaesarJulius Caesar (play)The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, also known simply as Julius Caesar, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the 44 BC conspiracy against...
by William ShakespeareWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
(12 February-20 March) - boy girl wall by The Escapists (30 March-17 April)
- Statespeare by Nellie Lee (28 April-6 May)
- Edward Gant's Amazing Feats of Loneliness by Anthony NeilsonAnthony NeilsonAnthony Neilson is a Scottish playwright and director commonly associated with the "in-yer-face theatre" movement and is known for his collaborative way of writing and workshopping his plays. His work is characterised by the exploration of sex and violence...
(20 May-12 June) - Ruben Guthrie by Brendan CowellBrendan CowellBrendan Cowell is an Australian actor, screenwriter and director. Cowell was born in Sydney. He stumbled upon acting by accident while waiting for his sister to come out of a rehearsal; he was then cast in a commercial at age 8...
(8 October-13 November)
La Boite Indie
- Michelle Miall presents Colder by Lachlan Philpott (22 Jun-10 Jul)
- Dead Puppet Society presents The Harbinger by David Morton and Matthew Ryan (13–31 July)
- Umber Productions presents Water Wars by Elaine Acworth (3-21 Aug)
- The Danger Ensemble presents The Hamlet Apocalypse (24 Aug-11 Sept)
2010 season
- The GruffaloThe GruffaloThe Gruffalo is a children's book by writer and playwright Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, that tells the story of a mouse's walk in the woods...
based on the picture-book by Julia DonaldsonJulia DonaldsonJulia Catherine Donaldson MBE is an English writer and playwright, best known as author of The Gruffalo and other children's books, many illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Of her 157 published works, 56 are widely available in bookshops...
(11–29 January) - HamletHamletThe Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
by William ShakespeareWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
(6 Feb-14 March) - Stockholm by Bryony LaveryBryony LaveryBryony Lavery is a British dramatist, known for her successful and award-winning 1998 play Frozen. In addition to her work in theatre, she has also written for television and radio...
(28 April-22 May) - The Chairs by Eugene IonescoEugène IonescoEugène Ionesco was a Romanian and French playwright and dramatist, and one of the foremost playwrights of the Theatre of the Absurd...
(5 June-4 July) - I Love You, Bro by Adam J A Cass (17 July-8 August)
- Engine by Janis Balodis (25 August-12 Sept)
- Gwen in Purgatory by Tommy Murphy (27 Sept-24 Oct)
2009 Season
- The White EarthThe White EarthThe White Earth is a Miles Franklin Award winning novel by Australian author Andrew McGahan.The stage version, adapted by McGahan and Shaun Charles, premiered at Brisbane's La Boite Theatre in February–March 2009.-Notes:...
by Andrew McGahanAndrew McGahanAndrew McGahan is a bestselling Australian novelist, best known for his cult first novel Praise, and for his Miles Franklin Award-winning novel The White Earth.-Early life and education:...
(23 Feb-21 March) - Blue Love devised and choreographed by Shaun Parker (28 April-9 May)
- Statespeare (19–29 May)
- Oodgeroo by Sam Watson (30 June-11 July)
- The Pineapple Queen by Norman Price (28 July-8 August)
- The Kursk by Sasha Janowicz (1–12 September)
Establishment and Early Years (1925-1956)
La Boite was originally founded in 1925, under the direction of British teacher of speech and drama Barbara Sisley and English literature professor J.J.Stable. Known as the Brisbane Repertory Theatre Society, it is one of the oldest, continuously operating, theatre companies in Australia, operating under Sisley's direction until her death in a road accident in 1945. Sisley had directed fifty-seven productions for the company including a number of Australian plays. After Sisley's death, the Brisbane Repertory Theatre Society survived from 1946 through to 1956 under the energy and passionate drive of Tom Stephens, Alex Foster, Cecil Carson and Gwen MacMinn.Relocation to Hale Street and the First 'La Boite' (1956-1969)
Babette Stephens succeeded the position of Council President in 1957, before accepting the first formal title of 'Theatre Director' in 1959. As a prominent professional Australian actor and director, she helped to create the first permanent theatre for the company when she succeeded in getting the company to purchase four cottages in Sexton Street and Hale Street in Petrie Terrace and the creation of the first ‘La Boite’. The suggestion was made to convert one of the cottages into a ‘theatre-in-the-round’ theatre space similar to Hayes Gordon’s Ensemble Theatre in Sydney. In the lead up to the launch of the theatre's new season in Hale Street in 1967, Brisbane Repertory Theatre adopted the new name 'La Boite'. The French translation of 'the box', La Boite’s intimate, 70 seat space attracted a new audiences, and a group of directors and actors, including Jane AtkinsJane Atkins
Jane Atkins is an American television soap opera writer and actress. She is a native of Calhoun County, Florida. As an actress, she has performed with the American Conservatory Theatre, the Actors’ Theatre of Louisville and the London Young Vic. Atkins is a member of the Writers Guild of America...
, Eileen Beatson and Muriel Watson. The repertoire of the company changed to a more radical, non-mainstream one. Australian plays became a regular feature of the season.
Second Relocation and Company Expansion (1969-2000)
Jennifer Blocksidge became Honorary Director in 1969, and remained in the role until 1975. In 1972, La Boite’s second in-the-round performance space was established, with the purpose-built, 200 seat theatre-in-the round, award-winning Blair WilsonBlair Wilson
Blair Wilson was the Canadian Member of Parliament in the 39th Canadian parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country electoral district. He was elected on January 23, 2006 in the 2006 federal election as the Liberal candidate...
designing the new La Boite Theatre. Blocksidge established her eventual aim to make La Boite a professional theatre company through the establishment in 1973 of the first professional 'theatre-in-education' team in Queensland , the Early Childhood Drama Project (ECDP), and the 1976 appointment of La Boite’s first salaried Artistic Director, Rick Billinghurst. Billinghurst embarked on a program of Australian and overseas works.
Malcolm Blaylock was appointed artistic director in 1980, when La Boite became a 'pro-am' theatre company. The early 1980s was a buoyant time for La Boite and for the pro-am or professional community theatre companies funded by the Australia Council. Blaylock programmed innovative, risky, and politically challenging Australian and non-Australian plays. The appointment in mid-1982 of Andrew Ross as Artistic Director brought La Boite into more professional main-house repertoire. By 1983, the company had lost both state and federal funding. The following years were considered financially trying for La Boite, but a huge effort by the Council and ‘resident directors’ Mike Bridges and Mary Hickson kept the company and theatre afloat. The 1986 appointment of Jim Vilé as both artistic director and CEO was a time of a more ‘open door’ programming at La Boite where “every day and evening of every month of the Theatre’s year was accounted for with a production of some kind…”
Patrick Mitchell took over from Vilé as Artistic Director in 1990. By 1991, the stress of running such a vibrant pro-am theatre company proved too much and David Bell took over as Artistic Director later in that year. Bell’s innovative cross arts approach to theatre saw the beginning of La Boite as a professional company and produced performances which blended circus, opera and modern dance with theatre. Although the innovative fusion of Bell's work gained critical and artistic success, La Boite once again was financially floundering. However, the appointment in 1993 of Sue Rider as Artistic Director saw a period of unparalleled growth once again bolstered the performance of new Australian and Rider’s commitment to Queensland artists.
Third Relocation and Present Day (2000 – present)
Sean Mee had been one of Brisbane’s leading actors for many years and he had started his career at La Boite with the Early Childhood Drama Project in the 1980s. He took the company in new artistic directions. The company left the theatre it owned and moved to the new La Boite Theatre – the Roundhouse Theatre, a larger replica of the second La Boite Theatre. It was built in the Creative Industries Precinct of Queensland University of TechnologyQueensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology is an Australian university with an applied emphasis in courses and research. Based in Brisbane, it has 40,000 students, including 6,000 international students, over 4,000 staff members, and an annual budget of more than A$750 million.QUT is marketed as "A...
’s Kelvin Grove Campus. Mee’s Artistic Directorship saw the company both artistically and financially reap the benefits of embracing primarily programming new Queensland works commissioned through La Boite. In 2008, Mee surprised the Brisbane theatre scene by relinquishing his position of Artistic Director. Despite the initial trials with the company, including the Australia Council
Australia Council
The Australia Council, informally known as the Australia Council for the Arts, is the official arts council or arts funding body of the Government of Australia.-Function:...
cutting funding to the company, David Berthold took up the position of Artistic Director, and under his leadership the company has broadened its scope to include international works in its programming whilst retaining the company’s over 85 year commitment to fostering Queensland and Australian theatre. Berthold's efforts with the company have been heralded as having "completely repositioned a Brisbane institution [La Boite]", and has garnered several prominent awards, including numerous winnings of the prestigious Matilda Awards
Matilda Awards
The Matilda Awards are awards which recognise excellence in cabaret, dance, theatre, and performance in Brisbane, the Australian state capital of Queensland and are the only awards to do so in that state...
.
Leaders and Artistic Directors
- Barbara Sisley (1925–1945)
- Tom StephensTom StephensThomas Gregory Stephens is a West Australian parliamentarian. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Parliament of Western Australia since 1982, serving in the Legislative Council from 1982 to 2004, and in the Legislative Assembly since 2005...
- Alex FosterAlex FosterAlexander Dwight Foster is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing with HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga. He is the son of former NHL player Dwight Foster and nephew of former NHL player Wes Jarvis. Prior to advancing to the professional ranks, Foster played both junior...
- Cecil Carson
- Gwen MacMinn
- Babette StephensBabette StephensPhyllis Babette Stephens was an Australian actress and director. A leading theatrical pioneer, she also appeared in film and television, and hosted talkback radio.She was born in England...
(1946–1968) - Jennifer Blocksidge (1969–1975)
- Rick Billinghurst (1976–1980)
- Malcolm Blaylock (1980–1986)
- Jim Vilé (1986–1990)
- Patrick Mitchell (1990–1991)
- David BellDavid BellDavid Bell may refer to:* David Bell , Scottish television producer and director* David Bell , Irish soldier* David E...
(1991–1993) - Sue Rider (1993–2000)
- Sean Mee (2000–2008)
- David BertholdDavid BertholdDavid Berthold is a leading Australian theatre director. He has directed for most of Australia's major theatre companies, as well as internationally. Since November 2008, he has been Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of La Boite Theatre Company...
(2008 – present)