La Boite Theatre

What La Boite Theatre does

La Boite Theatre Ltd is a privately held, registered Australian performing arts charity founded in 1925 and headquartered at 6-8 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove (Brisbane), on the Queensland University of Technology campus. The company operates from the Roundhouse Theatre — one of only two purpose-built theatres-in-the-round in Australia, reconfigurable between 397-seat in-the-round, 334-seat thrust, and 354-seat cabaret formats — complemented by the 117m² La Boite Studio (black-box) and an Espresso Bar & Café with forecourt. It delivers a 2026 mainstage season (Antigone, Eat Slay Zombie, Second Coming, KOREABOO) alongside artist development (Assembly and the newly launched Assembly Pathways), youth and education programming (school group bookings at $35/student and in-school workshops at $300-$890), Creative Building Services via a Yeronga workshop, and equipment hire, and has a secondary workshop/set-construction facility in Yeronga, South Brisbane.

Revenue is generated across five streams: box office ticket sales ($50–$65 adult, with concessions, groups, Auslan, and Assembly Showcase tiers), venue hire (Roundhouse up to $2,400/day for Sunday/public holiday performances, plus Studio, Espresso Bar forecourt, and equipment), education programmes (in-school workshops with $1/km travel fees from Kelvin Grove, and subsidised school group bookings), Creative Building Services for external theatre, live events, expos, schools, councils, and commercial clients, and donations (Wall of Light $2,000/3-year recognition, Gift A Ticket, monthly giving from $10/month, bequests, and an annual Giving Day). Distribution is direct-to-consumer through ticketing website, phone, and in-person Box Office, plus dedicated education and venue-hire channels, with no documented public API or partner platform.

The customer base spans three primary segments — general Queensland theatre audiences, schools and educational institutions in Queensland, and emerging artists (Assembly alumni now numbering 200+) — together with a secondary corporate/event-hire segment. La Boite is funded through a multi-tier government partnership model (Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Queensland, Brisbane City Council), earned box office and venue income, and philanthropic donations, and is supported by core strategic and seasonal partners including QUT, Brisbane Airport, Playlab Theatre, Griffin Theatre Company, and Brisbane Festival. In 2025, the company was named Queensland's seventh Major Arts Organisation and is a member of the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework; in June 2026, Artistic Director & CEO Courtney Stewart concluded her four-year tenure, with General Manager Ian Prowse serving as Interim CEO.

Name

La Boite Theatre

Legal name

La Boite Theatre Ltd

Website

https://laboite.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

La Boite Theatre is a Brisbane-based registered charity and Queensland Major Arts Organisation founded in 1925, operating the Roundhouse Theatre and producing mainstage seasons, artist development (Assembly), youth education, venue hire, and Creative Building Services for Queensland audiences, schools, and emerging artists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Live theatre productions
• Venue hire services
• Artist development programs
• Performing arts education
• Theatrical event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Kelvin Grove

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets to mainstage productions, preview performances, and Assembly showcases. Ticket prices range from $50-$65 for adults, with concessions and group discounts available.
2. Venue Hire: Revenue from hiring out the Roundhouse Theatre (up to $2,400/day for Sunday/Public Holiday performances), La Boite Studio (117m2 black box space), Espresso Bar & Café + Forecourt, and equipment hire services.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Donations through Wall of Light ($2,000 for 3-year recognition), Gift A Ticket program, monthly giving program, bequest program, and Giving Day campaigns. Tax-deductible donations support artist development and education programs.
4. Gift Vouchers: Sale of gift vouchers redeemable for tickets to La Boite productions. Vouchers are valid for 3 years from purchase date.
5. Education Programs: Revenue from in-school workshops priced at $300-$890 depending on duration (one period to full day), plus travel fees at $1/km from Kelvin Grove.
6. Creative Building Services: Set, prop, event and installation construction services delivered through La Boite's workshop in Yeronga, South Brisbane.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

La Boite Theatre produces and presents live theatrical productions in its purpose-built in-the-round Roundhouse Theatre in Brisbane, Australia. The company develops and stages a season of mainstage productions featuring bold contemporary Australian storytelling, complemented by venue hire services (Roundhouse Theatre, Studio, Espresso Bar), an artist development program (Assembly), and curriculum-aligned education programs for schools.

Product overview

La Boite Theatre operates as a performing arts organization offering a diverse portfolio of theatre productions and venue services. Their core product is mainstage theatrical productions staged in the Roundhouse Theatre, complemented by venue hire services including La Boite Studio (a black box space) and the Espresso Bar & Café with forecourt. Additional services include equipment hire and creative building services for set construction. The company runs artist development programs including the flagship Assembly program and the newly launched Assembly Pathways. Educational offerings encompass school bookings with subsidized pricing and in-school workshops led by professional artists. Ancillary revenue streams include gift vouchers, season packages, Wall of Light donor recognition, monthly donations, and bequest legacy giving.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions La Boite's primary theatrical productions staged in the Roundhouse Theatre, featuring bold contemporary storytelling across drama, comedy, and adaptations of classics. Targeted at general theatre audiences in Brisbane and Queensland.
• Roundhouse Theatre Venue Hire Iconic purpose-built theatre-in-the-round venue, one of only two in Australia, seating up to 397 in round configuration or 334 in thrust configuration. Available for hire for performances, corporate events, presentations, and product launches.
• La Boite Studio Venue Hire A versatile 117m2 'black box' space suitable for hire as a rehearsal room or for corporate functions and private events. Features include a 6.4m ceiling height and flexible capacity up to 120 standing or 60 theatre-style.
• Espresso Bar & Café + Forecourt Hire A 162m2 venue hire space outside the Roundhouse Theatre suitable for cocktail parties and gatherings. Capacity ranges from 20-50 seated to 350 standing. Serves Merlo Coffee, Archie Rose spirits, and Young Henrys beer.
• Equipment Hire Affordable equipment rental including staging decks, music/mic stands, lighting fixtures, speakers, sound equipment, projectors, masking/drapes, and cabling for events.
• Creative Building Services Industry-expert set, prop, event, and installation construction services delivered by La Boite's workshop team in Yeronga. Provides end-to-end solutions from design consultation through to manufacture and installation across theatre, live events, expos, schools, councils, and commercial sectors.
• Assembly Artist Development Program A six-month artist development program for emerging writers, directors, and actors (18+) providing mentorship, professional training, and collaboration opportunities. Includes seven writers, seven directors, and fourteen actors creating new short works each year.
• Assembly Pathways An artist development program for Assembly alumni offering two streams: Assembly: Artists-In-Residence and Assembly: Next Step, designed to create pathways toward the mainstage.
• School Bookings Group booking service for school groups to attend mainstage productions, with educational resources, post-show Stage Secrets sessions, and pricing at $35 per student/teacher with complimentary teacher tickets.
• In-School Workshops Professional-led workshops delivered in schools covering contemporary performance, devising theatre, playwriting, directing, physical theatre, monologues, and text work. Priced from $300 per period to $890 full day, plus $1/km travel fee from Kelvin Grove.
• Gift Vouchers Digital gift vouchers redeemable for La Boite productions and events, valid for 3 years. Available in configurable amounts for birthdays, holidays, graduations, and other celebrations.
• Season Packages Pre-paid ticket bundles offering savings on mainstage productions, with benefits including priority seating, no transaction fees, and free date exchanges. Available in 2-Play configurations for the 2026 season (March 10 to September 19, 2026).

Quantifiable outcome

• Assembly program has developed 64 writers, 64 directors, and 80 actors since 2019
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, support and minor.

• Playlab TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership with Playlab Theatre for Second Coming (August 2026). Playlab Theatre's Artistic Director Ian Lawson directs the production. Eat Slay Zombie was originally developed and produced by Playlab Theatre with QPAC First Nations Programming Unit support.
• Griffin Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production of KOREABOO with Griffin Theatre Company. KOREABOO was first produced by Griffin Theatre Company at Belvoir St Theatre (June-July 2025) before being co-presented with Brisbane Festival at La Boite.
• Brisbane FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrisbane Festival is a presenting and producing partner for KOREABOO, co-presenting the production with La Boite and Griffin Theatre Company.
• Queensland University of Technology (QUT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeason Partner and host of La Boite's Kelvin Grove campus. La Boite is located within QUT's Kelvin Grove campus and offers pre-paid parking at QUT Q Block car park. Past collaborations include QUT x La Boite Centenary Creative initiatives.
• Brisbane AirportsupportGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason Partner providing support for La Boite's annual programming.
• QPAC First Nations Programming UnitsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided support for the original development of Eat Slay Zombie by Alinta McGrady through QPAC's First Nations Programming Unit.
• Support PartnerssupportGTM or Marketing PartnerAruga (PR), BVN (architecture), Epic Hair Designs, McCullough Robertson Lawyers provide various support services.
• Official SuppliersminorOthersAether Brewing, CAAAS Audit Services, Fire'N'Dough, Joval Wine Group, Merlo Coffee Roasters, Quest Kelvin Grove, PQI Audio Visual provide products and services.
• Media PartnerssupportGTM or Marketing PartnerPixelFrame, Must Do Brisbane, The Saturday Paper, The Weekend Edition provide media coverage and promotional support.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Brisbane Powerhouse: Brisbane-based multidisciplinary arts venue presenting theatre, music, comedy, and visual arts with comparable venue hire, education, and community programming. Operates in the same Brisbane market and competes for similar audiences and corporate event clients.
• Queensland Theatre: Queensland's flagship theatre company, also based in Brisbane, producing a mainstage season of contemporary Australian works with similar audience demographics, funding profile (Australia Council, Arts Queensland), and educational programming. Most directly comparable peer given shared city, scale, and producing-theatre model.
• Playlab Theatre: Brisbane-based theatre company and current La Boite co-production partner (Second Coming). Focused on new Queensland writing, providing a directly comparable peer in artist development and Queensland-based theatre production.
• Belvoir St Theatre: Sydney-based producing theatre with a comparable mainstage subscription model, education programs, and emerging-artist development focus. Similar scale and audience demographic profile, though operating in a larger market.
• HotHouse Theatre: Regional Victorian producing theatre of similar scale focused on new Australian work and emerging artists. Comparable size, subscription model, and artist development programming outside the major capital cities.
• Griffin Theatre Company: Sydney-based theatre company focused on new Australian writing, and a current co-production partner of La Boite (KOREABOO). Comparable in size, focus on emerging writers, and B2C producing-theatre model with subscription ticketing.

Broad incumbents

• Sydney Theatre Company: Larger flagship Australian theatre company where La Boite's outgoing Artistic Director Courtney Stewart previously served as Directing Associate. Represents a scaled-up version of the same producing-theatre business model and serves as the talent pool / leadership reference point.
• Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC): Queensland's largest performing arts centre located in Brisbane's Cultural Centre. Operates multiple venues and presents a broad performing arts calendar, competing for Brisbane audiences and venue hire clients while also being a programming partner (QPAC First Nations Programming Unit).
• Melbourne Theatre Company: Australia's largest theatre company, operating multiple venues in Melbourne with an extensive subscription and education program. Provides a broad incumbent reference point for governance, funding diversification, and programming scale.

Emerging players

• Brisbane Festival: Annual multi-arts festival and current co-presenting partner of La Boite (KOREABOO). While not a year-round producing theatre, it operates in the same Brisbane market, shares funding/government relationships, and represents an important programming and audience channel for La Boite.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LaBoiteTheatre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LaBoiteTheatreCompany
• Facebookfacebook.com/LaBoiteTheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-boite-theatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/laboitetheatre

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about La Boite Theatre