Professional Development Series Monday 8 to Friday 12 July 2024 13 FREE Sessions across 5 nights and 4 days 50 presenting experts All sessions are free All sessions live and livestreamed All evening sessions Auslan interpreted Bookings required (T&Cs apply) and access is limited to 1 ticket per person per session Sessions may include Q&A … Continued
Professional Development Series 2024
8 Jul – 12 Jul
Professional Development Series
Monday 8 to Friday 12 July 2024
13 FREE Sessions across 5 nights and 4 days
50 presenting experts
All sessions are free
All sessions live and livestreamed
All evening sessions Auslan interpreted
Bookings required (T&Cs apply) and access is limited to 1 ticket per person per session
Sessions may include Q&A from both live and livestream audiences.
Livestream audiences are encouraged to submit comments and questions in the live chat.
Relaxed Performances: All sessions will be relaxed performances.
Visual rating 50%: Events are partly subtitled or include dialogue, background music and/or sounds, so d/Deaf and hard of hearing audiences can have some engagement with the event.
Aural Rating 75%: Mainly sound-based, with visuals only incidental to the work, so blind or low vision audiences can have close to the full experience of the event.
From the back streets of Athens, with its smoky nightclubs and seedy gambling dens, to the tumultuous waters of the Indian Ocean and to the ports and suburbs of Melbourne, Helen Yotis-Patterson’s epic Greek Trilogy takes us on a journey like no other, tracing the roots of migration to the backdrop of Laika and Entechno … Continued
From the back streets of Athens, with its smoky nightclubs and seedy gambling dens, to the tumultuous waters of the Indian Ocean and to the ports and suburbs of Melbourne, Helen Yotis-Patterson’s epic Greek Trilogy takes us on a journey like no other, tracing the roots of migration to the backdrop of Laika and Entechno music.
Part one, “Eftihia” explores the unique philosophies of lyricist and compulsive gambler Eftihia Papgiannopoulou as she entertains a manifestation of Death in her living room.
Part two, “Taxithi” takes us on a journey by sea to help us understand the motivations and experience of migration.
Each piece stands alone but the full story is only revealed by their combined narratives. Don’t miss this extraordinary theatrical and musical experience!
Starring Katerina Kotsonis, Alkisti Pitsakis, Helen Yotis-Patterson and more, including Jacob Papadopoulos on bouzouki.
The double bill will be livestreamed on Sunday, Feb 25, 2pm (Eftihia) and 4pm (Taxithi).
Primary Season Shows La Mamicas, La Mama Kids, Playreading, La Mama Mobile Melbourne Festival of Puppetry 2023 Jun 27 – Jul 2 11 Children’s Performances, 3 adults performances, Roving Performances throughout the festival, Children’s Puppet Workshops and Professional Development Opportunities for Artists and Adults. La Mama Explorations 2023
11 Children’s Performances, 3 adults performances, Roving Performances throughout the festival, Children’s Puppet Workshops and Professional Development Opportunities for Artists and Adults.
Welcome to the 2023 Melbourne Festival of Puppetry. We are delighted to welcome artists from across Australia to present their work. This year we are thrilled to offer audience’s 11 Children’s Performances, 3 adults performances, Roving Performances throughout the festival, Children’s Puppet Workshops and Professional Development Opportunities for Artists and Adults. New this year’s festival … Continued
Melbourne Festival of Puppetry 2023
Jun 27 – Jul 2
Welcome to the 2023 Melbourne Festival of Puppetry.
We are delighted to welcome artists from across Australia to present their work. This year we are thrilled to offer audience’s 11 Children’s Performances, 3 adults performances, Roving Performances throughout the festival, Children’s Puppet Workshops and Professional Development Opportunities for Artists and Adults.
New this year’s festival is The Puppet Picnic, a FREE Community Day on the lawns of the Carlton Highrise Estate of performances, roving puppets, engaging workshops and an opportunity for all to connect, share and celebrate.
If you’re looking for something to do before or after a show, or maybe even inbetween, pick up one of our Puppet Treasure Hunt sheets from La Mama HQ. Explore the streets of Carlton!
Can you find where all the puppets are hiding and answer all the questions? Those who do can collect a free prize when they head back to La Mama HQ.
Join us at the Motely Bauhaus for our program of adult works including some wild and weird roving puppets before each show. Roving starts from 7.30pm. Come early, grab a warming ale and enjoy some puppet nonsense with Curious Legends, Julian Chappel and Perri Campbell.
A FREE Community Day on the lawn of the Carlton Highrise Estate of performances, roving puppets, engaging workshops and an opportunity for all to connect, share and celebrate.
Between the hours of 11-12.30pm the streets of Carlton will be visited by a collection of fabulous roving puppets. Look for us each day between La Mama HQ and the Carlton Courthouse as well as northern end of Lygon St.
GEORGIE ROSE
THE GARDENERS: Things of Foam and Wood
CURIOUS LEGENDS: Adventures of Bin Chick
LEMONY S Puppet Theatre roving puppets
JULES CHAPPLE
PERRI CAMPBELL: The Plot Chickens
Georgie RoseThings of Foam and WoodCurious Legends
The Melbourne Festival of Puppetry 2023 is supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Victoria, the City of Melbourne, Carlton Inc. The Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society, La Mama Theatre and Lemony S Puppet Theatre and proudly sponsored by Creature Technology Company, the Motely Bauhaus and Co.As.It
Three plays about women connecting in public space through their experiences of grief and loss. Created over the last seven years by writer/director Liv Satchell with an ensemble of Melbourne’s leading theatre artists, The Grief Trilogy brings the critically acclaimed productions let bleeding girls lie and my sister feather and the world premiere of I … Continued
Three plays about women connecting in public space through their experiences of grief and loss.
Created over the last seven years by writer/director Liv Satchell with an ensemble of Melbourne’s leading theatre artists, The Grief Trilogy brings the critically acclaimed productions let bleeding girls lie and my sister feather and the world premiere of I sat and waited but you were gone too long to La Mama Courthouse in March 2023. Nominated for seven Green Room Awards and now produced for the first time as a complete body of work, these plays explore transformational encounters between strangers and our desire for connection in the face of loss, grief, and violence.
★★★★ “A gorgeous exhibition of empathetic theatre making […] Chanella Macri, Belinda McClory and Emily Tomlins sharing a stage together should be reason enough to stop reading immediately and book a ticket.”
– THEATRE PEOPLE on let bleeding girls lie
★★★★ “A funny and profoundly touching play, stylishly designed and directed, that touches on sombre subjects […] with empathy and humour.”
– THE AGE on let bleeding girls lie
“Satchell and her team admirably demonstrate that good theatre doesn’t need big casts and bigger sets. All it needs is a couple of great actors and a script that has something to say.”
– WITNESS PERFORMANCE on my sister feather
Directed by Liv Satchell
Written by Liv Satchell with Chanella Macri, Belinda McClory, Emily Tomlins
Dramaturgy by Emma Valente
Production Design by James Lew
Sound Design by Tom Backhaus and Hannah McKittrick
Lighting Design by John Collopy with Jason Crick
Stage Managed by Ashleigh Walwyn
Produced by Julian Dibley-Hall
Assistant Directed by Leigh Lule
This production is supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants, Creative Partnerships Australia through MATCH Lab, and the Robert Salzer Foundation.
After fire, the War-Rak/Banksia flower comes back stronger and more beautiful than ever, blossoming with colour and life! Inspired by rebirth, La Mama’s War-Rak/Banksia Festival commemorates the return of our iconic home with a free four day celebration. Please join us to mark this joyful occasion, check out our new digs and be welcomed home. … Continued
War-Rak/Banksia Festival
9 Dec – 12 Dec
After fire, the War-Rak/Banksia flower comes back stronger and more beautiful than ever, blossoming with colour and life! Inspired by rebirth, La Mama’s War-Rak/Banksia Festival commemorates the return of our iconic home with a free four day celebration. Please join us to mark this joyful occasion, check out our new digs and be welcomed home.
Access at War-Rak/Banksia Festival
La Mama’s War-Rak Banksia Opening Night on Thursday 9th December will be a fully Auslan Interpreted event provided by Auslan Stageleft. Audio Description and Tactile Tours for the Opening Night are available upon request – please direct all bookings/enquiries to myf@lamama.com.au by Wednesday 1st December. Please check individual show pages for more details regarding Visual and Aural ratings of works in the Festival.
Covid Safety at War-Rak/Banksia Festival
La Mama Theatre is opening in line with the Victorian Government’s guidelines. While we continue to work towards a safe environment for all, the situation is constantly evolving, and so too our Covid-Safe plan. We will continue to be informed by the Victorian Government, VAPAC and the LPA. The below document outlines the steps we will take to ensure the safety of our staff, artists, patrons and visitors during this time of crisis and into the future.
Our Opening Night and some of the shows performed in the theatre space will be live-streamed on La Mama’s Facebook and Youtube Channel with live captioning. Download the livestream schedule below and set a reminder!
Festival Operators: Millie Levakis-Lucas, Rosie Leway, Sarah Bianco, Shane Grant.
Thank you to our production partners for their generous contributions to the lighting and audio of War Rak Banksia Festival. Clearlight Shows LSS Productions
Experimental, independent First People’s theatre. An Indigenous Trilogy explores issues facing young Indigenous people, family and systemic racism whilst poetically intertwining First Nation Creation Stories. Playwright Glenn Shea’s personal experience working with children within the criminal justice system and his lived experience as a Stolen Generation child have informed this powerful story. Week 1: Act … Continued
An Indigenous Trilogy
8 Nov – 27 Nov
Experimental, independent First People’s theatre.
An Indigenous Trilogy explores issues facing young Indigenous people, family and systemic racism whilst poetically intertwining First Nation Creation Stories. Playwright Glenn Shea’s personal experience working with children within the criminal justice system and his lived experience as a Stolen Generation child have informed this powerful story.
Week 1: Act I: Three Magpies Perched in a Tree 8 – 13 Nov
Week 2: Act II: Masterpiece 15 – 20 Nov
Week 3: Trilogy 23 – 27 Nov: All three shows will be presented this week, click the events below for further information.
Durational Performances: Nov 26 & 27. All three acts will be presented together during the course of a day with two intervals.
Creative team: Glenn Shea, Tessa Spooner, Valentina Serebrennikova (Design), DE (Sound), Browyn Pringle (Lighting), Mia Reilly-Shea, Kristel Kickett, Lauren Thuys, Dr. Kirsty M Reilly (Intimacy Coach) and Lucy Payne (Trainee Intimacy Coach)
Mentees: Isabel Knight (directing), Brodie Murray (writing), Maxi Sam-Morris (lighting) and Ben Ridgeway (sound)
If you are a parent/carer and would like to be kept in the loop about future La Mama Kids offerings, please sign-up to our La Mama Kids list below. Subscribe to La Mama for Kids * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name *
We are thrilled to reignite La Mama for Kids – our dedicated program for children and young people. La Mama for Kids aims to provide opportunities for young people and children to express their creativity, as well as the chance to engage in performance and art specifically made for (and by) them.
For more information about La Mama for Kids please see here.
A mini festival of love/unlove. 2 shows in 1 weird night out. Are you lonely? Unloved? In a long term relationship with your laptop? Watching too much TV? Do you prefer fantasy? Has that fantasy let you down? Do you miss real people? Do you hate real people? Do you feel subpar and ugly? Us … Continued
Love Fest 2021
9 Feb – 21 Feb
A mini festival of love/unlove. 2 shows in 1 weird night out.
Are you lonely? Unloved? In a long term relationship with your laptop? Watching too much TV? Do you prefer fantasy? Has that fantasy let you down? Do you miss real people? Do you hate real people? Do you feel subpar and ugly?
Us too.
Let us fill that void. Come and stare at us silently in the dark while we perform for you. Love us. Please love us. Please please please please love us… Please.
Ticket Prices:
Single show: $30 Full | $20 Concession, $25 Groups 5+ (use the code word SQUAD when booking) Double Bill (see both shows in one night): $50 Full | $30 Concession (use the code word DOUBLE when booking)
La Mama is thrilled to reopen and welcome you back to the theatre! To ensure the comfort and safety of our audiences, artists and staff we have put together a COVID-Safe plan. You can see all the information on La Mama’s Covid Safety page.
December 2020
8 Dec – 20 Dec
La Mama is thrilled to reopen and welcome you back to the theatre! To ensure the comfort and safety of our audiences, artists and staff we have put together a COVID-Safe plan. You can see all the information on La Mama’s Covid Safety page.
La Mama North is a festival of new digital theatre created by students from La Trobe University, Bundoora for Melbourne Fringe Festival 2020. A co-production between La Mama and La Trobe University.
La Mama North Fringe 2020
18 Nov – 29 Nov
La Mama North is a festival of new digital theatre created by students from La Trobe University, Bundoora for Melbourne Fringe Festival 2020. A co-production between La Mama and La Trobe University.
La Mama theatre has a rich history of presenting avant-garde and cutting edge film. Notably, in 1978 La Mama debuted a collection of films entitled Women on Film that included works by Peter Tammer, Lisa Roberts and Monique Schwarz.Continuing this legacy, La Mama is pleased to present Cinematica. A quarterly event to present short-film, obscure music videos, experimental film, … Continued
Private: La Mama Cinematica!
La Mama theatre has a rich history of presenting avant-garde and cutting edge film. Notably, in 1978 La Mama debuted a collection of films entitled Women on Film that included works by Peter Tammer, Lisa Roberts and Monique Schwarz. Continuing this legacy, La Mama is pleased to present Cinematica. A quarterly event to present short-film, obscure music videos, experimental film, the moving-image and avant-garde cinema. Now curated by Tessa Spooner, La Mama will hold seasonal, curated evenings of thematic cinema.
UPDATE:Due to the ever-evolving Covid-19 pandemic Puppets and Masks of Italy will no longer run at this year’s Melbourne Festival of Puppetry. Please contact La Mama to organise your refund, or consider donating the price of the ticket to the artists. If you would like to move your tickets to another show within the festival please get in touch via info@lamama.com.au or … Continued
Melbourne Festival of Puppetry 2021
6 Jul – 11 Jul
UPDATE: Due to the ever-evolving Covid-19 pandemic Puppets and Masks of Italy will no longer run at this year’s Melbourne Festival of Puppetry. Please contact La Mama to organise your refund, or consider donating the price of the ticket to the artists. If you would like to move your tickets to another show within the festival please get in touch via info@lamama.com.au or (03) 9347 6948. You can see the rest of the program below.
Welcome to the 2021 Melbourne Festival of Puppetry. This year’s festival was originally scheduled for 2019 but first, the fire at La Mama delayed us and then the world as a whole fell apart and so, here we stand in 2021 offering you a festival filled with joy and love and, of course, puppetry. It seems a miracle that this is possible and while we are sad our international guest artists could not join us, we are delighted to welcome artists from across Australia to present their work. It’s been such a rough time in the performing arts over the past 12 months. It’s also been a rough time for the young people of Melbourne so it gives us immense pleasure to focus this year’s festival on presenting quality puppetry works for young audiences. But, our adult friends are not forgotten. This year, we are presenting a day and night adult program with our friends A Blanck Canvas Studio at Seaworks in Williamstown. We hope these art offerings lighten your load, bring a smile to your face and warm your winter chills.
The Melbourne Festival of Puppetry is presented by La Mama Theatre and Lemony S Puppet Theatre in partnership with Co.As.It. We are supported by Creative Victoria and City of Melbourne and proudly sponsored by Creature Technology Company.
As the latest addition to the sisterhood of La Mama’s monthly or seasonal events, La Mama Cabaretica provides a vivid celebration of the cabaret scene in Melbourne. Cabaretica is co-curated by Susan Bamford Caleo and Isabel Knight and is a, quarterly, late-night performance, offering an opportunity for established and emerging cabaret performers, and fans of cabaret, to come together … Continued
Private: La Mama Cabaretica
As the latest addition to the sisterhood of La Mama’s
monthly or seasonal events, La Mama Cabaretica provides
a vivid celebration of the cabaret scene in Melbourne. Cabaretica is co-curated by Susan
Bamford Caleo and Isabel Knight and is a, quarterly, late-night performance,
offering an opportunity for established and emerging cabaret performers, and
fans of cabaret, to come together to expand, explore and explode this bold and
dynamic artform.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival at La Mama 2020
It is with sadness and concern for our artists that we will be postponing our entire Comedy Festival season, including the productions of: We Too Us Too Me Too Too Too, Incognito!, The Business of God and Mrs. Robinson: A Soap Cabaret. We hope to re-program all these productions in 2021 and trust you will understand the need … Continued
Melbourne International Comedy Festival at La Mama 2020
23 Mar – 19 Apr
It is with sadness and concern for our artists that we will be postponing our entire Comedy Festival season, including the productions of: We Too Us Too Me Too Too Too, Incognito!, The Business of God and Mrs. Robinson: A Soap Cabaret.
We hope to re-program all these productions in 2021 and trust you will understand the need for this decision at this time.
We strongly encourage anyone who has bought a ticket to consider making this a donation to the artists involved. This is a very unnerving time for all, but the independent arts sector is, as always, particularly vulnerable. The artists have been working very hard and we hope to support them as best as we can. We have set up the possibility of donating directly to artists, so please go to the show pages on our website if you are in a position to support.
The Melbourne Festival of Puppetry is back! And this year, there is an incredible array of puppetry to be experienced from across Australia and across the world. This years program includes special performances from Anino Shadowplay Collective (Philipines), People Who Play With Theatre (New Zealand) as well as performances by the world-renowned Australian puppeteer Richard … Continued
The Melbourne Festival of Puppetry is back! And this year, there is an incredible array of puppetry to be experienced from across Australia and across the world. This years program includes special performances from Anino Shadowplay Collective (Philipines), People Who Play With Theatre (New Zealand) as well as performances by the world-renowned Australian puppeteer Richard Bradshaw (NSW, Australia) to mention but a few. New to the festival this year is a workshop program for children and a professional development program for adults, including special guest workshop leader, Sorn Soran (Cambodia). There are free puppet events daily and performances across La Mama’s venues for all ages so book early! Remember, book four shows and receive your fifth show for free (use the 5 FOR 4 SPECIAL option).
The Melbourne Festival of Puppetry is supported by Creative Victoria, the City of Melbourne, La Mama Theatre, Lemony S Puppet Theatre and proudly sponsored by Creature Technology Company.
Explorations 2019
Due to the fire at La Mama Theatre on Faraday Street on the 19th of May 2018, our Explorations season for 2019 will be taking place at The Burrow 83, Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Vic
Explorations 2019
9 Jun – 30 Jun
Due to the fire at La Mama Theatre on Faraday Street on the 19th of May 2018, our Explorations season for 2019 will be taking place at The Burrow 83, Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Vic
La Mama presented poetry for the first time in 1967 with Glen Tomesetti and Kris Hemmensley. Following these wonderful events, Mal Morgan began to organise La Mama Poetica nights which took place every five weeks. Now curated by Amanda Anastasi, La Mama Poetica remains a night of some of the best spoken word and poetry that Melbourne has to … Continued
Private: La Mama Poetica
La Mama presented poetry for the first time in 1967 with Glen Tomesetti and Kris Hemmensley. Following these wonderful events, Mal Morgan began to organise La Mama Poetica nights which took place every five weeks. Now curated by Amanda Anastasi, La Mama Poetica remains a night of some of the best spoken word and poetry that Melbourne has to offer, with a diverse selection of both emerging and established poets.
Private: La Mama Musica
La Mama Musica is one of Melbourne’s longest running music nights, in operation since 1969. It is a curated concert series showcasing creative music, improvising musicians and sound-artists. The intimate settings and fabulous acoustics of La Mama’s two historic theatres allows fine musicians to perform in a very special environment, amidst the set of the … Continued
Private: La Mama Musica
La Mama Musica is one of Melbourne’s longest running music nights, in operation since 1969. It is a curated concert series showcasing creative music, improvising musicians and sound-artists. The intimate settings and fabulous acoustics of La Mama’s two historic theatres allows fine musicians to perform in a very special environment, amidst the set of the current theatre production – so improvisation and flexibility of presentation is also part of our process. Musica encourages unusual collaborations, provides a vital space for creative risk-taking and supports the development of new work – giving each event a special air of excitement for artists and audience alike. From 2022 – 2025 we hope to develop a partnership with Melbourne Music Week to connect, bring in new audiences and highlight and extend the program.
