Our History
La Boite's name and symbol changes over the decades
Over the decades, La Boite has had several name changes. Originally known as ‘Brisbane Repertory Theatre Society’, it dropped ‘Society’ in 1945 to become ‘Brisbane Repertory Theatre’. With the opening of its first theatre-in-the-round in 1967, it often referred to itself as ‘Brisbane Repertory’s La Boîte Theatre’. La Boîte is French for 'the box', an apt name for the first little La Boîte Theatre and its box-like performance space in the converted cottage. In 1977 it began marketing itself as ‘La Boîte’ although it remained, legally, Brisbane Repertory Theatre. Between 1993 and 2003 its official title was ‘La Boite Theatre’. On its move to Kelvin Grove in 2004, it became ‘La Boite Theatre Company’. Although the original French spelling – La Boîte – was used for almost fifteen years, La Boite without the umlaut has been consistently used by the Company since the early 1980s.
The symbols have changed too, from the Greek-like figures and theatre masks that decorated programs off and on for the first four decades, to the iconic circle symbol, to today's intertwined letters L and B.
Writer: Christine Comans
#Gallery
1925
Courtesy QPAC Museum
From 2010 a new symbol is introduced.
The 'eye' symbol disappears in 2004 with the Company's move to the Roundhouse Theatre
Courtesy QPAC Museum.
The 'eye' continues until
Courtesy QPAC Museum.
By 1998 a new 'eye' symbol had been introduced.
Courtesy QPAC Museum
1986 program - by the early 1980s the French spelling of La Boite had disappeared.
1972 program - the iconic circular symbol and name is now established and continues for many years.
Courtesy QPAC Museum
1968/1969 program - the first time the iconic round symbol appears.
Courtesy QPAC Museum
1967 program - the last time the comedy/tragedy mask was used.
Courtesy QPAC Museum
The comedy/tragedy masks on the program lasted through the '50s until 1967.
Courtesy QPAC Museum
1947 program - by 1945 the 'Society' had been dropped. This design lasted until 1950.
Courtesy QPAC Museum
1940 program - austerity during the war.
Courtesy QPAC Museum
1935 program - the first time the Greek theatre mask appears. It disappears between 1940 and 1950 then reappears in 1951.
Courtesy QPAC Museum.
1932 - 1934 program cover
Courtesy QPAC Museum
This program cover featured between 1929 and 1932
Courtesy QPAC Museum
1929 The Punch and Judy program cover lasted two years.
Courtesy QPAC Museum
1926 This program cover lasted only a year.
Courtesy QPAC Museum
La Boite's symbol in 2015, an intertwined L and B.
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