About
Our Story
La Boite is a story of people, passion, purpose and place.
We hold a unique place in the hearts and minds of artists and audiences in Brisbane. For the past nine decades La Boite has represented the adventurous and alternative. There has always been a strong focus on the development of new work and artists, and today it is no different.
The stories, ideas and voices of our city and country are many and varied and as such La Boite seeks to represent and engage in this beautiful and rich diversity; the diversity of form, of ideas, ethnicity, gender – of identity.
Theatre has the capacity to embrace difference in so many ways. This year we push the boundaries of form by collaborating with some extraordinary partners to stretch theatrical, visual and musical boundaries. We play with cabaret, puppets, classical text, hip-hop, the theatrical and extraordinary talents. We hope that this varied menu will enliven and inspire our existing audiences and draw new audiences to share in the La Boite experience – the experience and magic of live performance in our unique Roundhouse Theatre.
As we diversify our programming we look to deepen your experience with us. There are so many ways to engage with La Boite for people of all ages and backgrounds – check out our Participation page on this website for more details.
In 2017 we continue our commitment to accessible theatre by once again offering all preview tickets at $30. New work needs testing in the crucible of the live audience experience. Previews are a working time for our artists and productions may still need to develop during these performances, but if you’re passionate about the process then get in early and grab a bargain!
There are lots of ways you can support La Boite, including through making a donation, becoming a corporate partner or volunteering.
Each year we’re delighted to share with you our program of exciting productions that bring together our most talented local and national artists, engage in the discourse around the stories we tell and encourage you to participate in your La Boîte.
La Boite Archive
90 years of existence takes resilience and ingenuity. La Boite has survived two World Wars, censorship, public outrage, politically-charged programming, changing tastes, floods and the constant flirting with failure that comes with walking the tightrope between risk and certainty. Ultimately, La Boite’s history is your history. Whether you have been with us for years or are new to the fold, we welcome you to join us as we move into our next 90 years.
Explore our history on our archive → 90years.laboite.com.au
Work with Us
Internships
La Boite has a long history of creating opportunities for young and emerging artists. We offer internships in a wide range of activities, from direction, production design and stage management to marketing.
We encourage applications from the professional sphere as well as the tertiary sector, but particularly welcome students of QUT and Southbank Institute. We are not able to provide work experience opportunities for high school students.
Our Internship Program allows students, graduates, and others to experience the inner workings of a professional theatre from every angle. It fosters the development of emerging arts practitioners, and also facilitates the learning of a range of skills in communication, research, management, problem solving, teamwork, and independent critical thinking.
If you wish to express an interest in a particular area, email info@laboite.com.au
La Boite staff & board
La Boite board
Julian Myers (Chair), Richard Hundt (Treasurer), Vivienne Anthon (Deputy Chair), Graham Bethune, Gina Fairfax, Kevin O’Brien, Lynn Rainbow Reid AM & John Scherer.
La Boite staff
Artistic Director & CEO Todd MacDonald
General Manager Katherine Hoepper
Creative Producer Sanja Simic
Youth & Participation Producer Claire Christian
Accountant Karen Mitchell FCA
Assistant Accountant Roxane Eden
Development & Philanthropy Manager Jackie Maxwell
Development & Philanthropy Coordinator TBA
Marketing & PR Manager ARUGA
Marketing Coordinator Stephanie Pickett
Graphic Designer Claudia Piggott
Head of Production Canada White
Head Technician TBC
Workshop Coordinator Andrew Mills
Venue Operations Manager Jessica Ralph
Ticketing and Administration Officer Maddie Little & Moeko Reilly
Front of House Staff Tom Bellas, Jess Bunz, Patrick Hayes, Emma Joenpolvi, Elizabeth Jones, Finley Kube, Lucy Lott, Senayt Mebrahtu, Charlotte Moutrey, Remi Roehrs
Volunteers
La Boite would like to thank all of our hardworking volunteers:
Claire Agente, Jessie Anema, Lewis Atkinson, Brooke Austen, Gene Banyard, Olivia Batchelor, David Bentley, Linda Bulloch, Natalie Callaghan, Cath Carkeet, Ric Carthew, David Casey, Kerrel Casey, Russell Cockerill, Tony Cole, Tony Costantini, Rhumer Diball, Evie Dulnuan, Sho Eba, Georgia Eyers, Shane Fell, Liesl Filippi, Bruce Finlayson, Léonie Flood, Matt Gaffney, Jessica Gould, Jessica Haack, Declan Hale, Erin Handford, Rosie Hazel, Emma Healy, Rebecca Hull, Greg Johnson, Albina Karami, Anne Kelley, Sharon Laycock, Billie Letts, Jeannie Lloyd-Apjohn, Shirley Markie, Ashley Mcgregor, Tait Mcgregor, Nathan Mills, Racheal Missingham, Mary Murphy, Brooklyn Pace, Steve Pager, Jane Paterson, Paige Purvey, Livio Regano, Lara Rix, Elia Roehrs, Mikaela Sanders, Sophie Sassman, Nicholas Seery, Brodie Shelley, Sascha Shipley, Brenton Smith, Estelle Snowball, Damian Tatum, Jordan Tselepy, Ellen Tuffley, Tanith Underwood, Alycia Warner, Bruce Finlayson, Livio Regano, Shelli Ward, Alycia Warner, Cassandra Waterford, Georgia Weddell, Emma Windress, Josie Wivell, Shez Wright, Vittorio Yun, Bri Zammit.
Venue Hire
Theatre hire at La Boite
La Boite’s Roundhouse Theatre is an epic-intimate space and Australia’s only purpose-built theatre-in-the-round. It’s also flexible enough to be used as a thrust stage with the audience on three sides. This 400-seat home stage offers a distinctive theatre experience. Both the Roundhouse Theatre and La Boite’s Rehearsal Room are available for hire during certain periods of the year. Our facilities are also suitable for:
- Cocktail functions
- Christmas Parties
- Industry Forums & Lectures
- Off-site Staff Workshops
- Award Presentation Nights
For enquiries about hiring our theatre please contact:
info@laboite.com.au
(07) 3007 8600
Equipment hire
We also stock a variety of lighting, sound and AV equipment that is available for hire. If you’re not sure what item is best for the job, give us a call – we’ll be happy to help you make the right choice.
For enquiries about hiring our technical equipment, please contact:
Don Mackenzie
Head of Production
don@laboite.com.au
(07) 3007 8600
Workshop hire
La Boite Theatre Company’s Workshop is a multi-use event/film/television set construction space located in Yeronga, South Brisbane. The Workshop can be used as your set-building headquarters for your next project or can be hired as a TV/film shoot location.
We are able to offer specialist equipment hire and provide you with access to our in-house carpentry expert. We regularly use our Workshop to construct theatre set pieces and have an open floor space of approx. 8m x 13m with a clear working height of 5.5m.
Contact venuehire@laboite.com.au with your project for additional information, and our Production Crew will be in contact as soon as possible.
La Boite Staff Profiles
Sanja Simić
Sanja Simić is a creative producer, theatre director, dramaturg, and occasional academic. She is a Creative Arts (Honours) graduate from the University of Wollongong. In 2010 Sanja co-founded Bodysnatchers, an independent theatre company focused on new writing. She has created work for La Mama Theatre (Encounter, 2016), Tamarama Rock Surfers (Blood Pressure, 2012), PACT centre for emerging artists (Debris, 2011), Brisbane Festival (Soothsayers, 2012 Under the Radar), Griffin Theatre Company, Merrigong Theatre Company, Sydney and Adelaide Fringe Festivals, Shopfront Theatre, and the University of Wollongong (Wounds to the Face 2010, Roberto Zucco 2012, The Grace of Mary Traverse 2016). In 2014-15 Sanja was the Communications Manager at Performance Space, Sydney. Most recently, Sanja worked at the Australia Council for the Arts in International Projects, Strategic Development and Advocacy from 2016-17. *Aside from theatre, Sanja’s interests include live art, colder climes, and fried chicken.
Five minutes with Sanja…
How are you finding the big move from Sydney?
Fine, thanks for asking! I think I brought the cool change with me when I moved up, so I’m actually coping surprisingly well with the heat. And I’ve discovered the burger and fried chicken culture in Brisbane, which is ace – I am a fan of UberEATS. Aside from that, the people are lovely and it’s an exciting time to be starting at La Boite, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the next few months pan out.
How is Brisbane different for you from Sydney from your experience so far?
It’s hotter, and you can get pretty much anywhere in 10 minutes in an Uber! Unless it’s 5:30pm, I learnt that the hard way yesterday. I am not a fan of Brisbane’s public transport system, but I think I just have to surrender to the bus life. Aside from that, it’s not all that different – ask me again in six months.
Do you have any advice for aspiring young artists?
Make work, do your research, seek out opportunities, and apply for everything (as long as it’s relevant to your practice/art form). Learn to talk about your work/practice and identify where what you’re making fits into the wider landscape of what’s going on locally and nationally. See as much work as you can as often as possible.
Favourite country you’ve travelled to and why did you choose to go there?
Aside from Bosnia and Croatia, which are home, it’d have to be Germany. A lot of people rave about Berlin, but it actually is amazing – the art scene is extraordinary, and the diversity of the city really appeals to me. Berlin is also the home of the best kebabs I’ve ever had (legit). I really love Switzerland too – snowy mountainous landscapes make me very happy, and the Swiss have good mountains.
What is your dream destination to travel to?
I’d really love to visit Iceland.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
Brave, asking a chatty person an open ended question! Not really, it has been a whirlwind three weeks here at La Boite, but I am happy to be here and excited about getting to know the Brisbane scene. I look forward to meeting everyone in our foyer during The Village, Lady Beetle and Blackrock in the coming months.