Theatre Companies in Brisbane | Queensland Theatre Companies

Theatre Companies in Brisbane

Written by on | Brisbane Acting Resources

I grew up just outside of Brisbane in a small town called Noosa. Noosa is about an hour and half from Brisbane and like most young actors growing up in small towns, we looked towards our capital cities with great reverence. Queensland Theatre Company, the state theatre company of Queensland, was the pinnacle of acting for us growing up. My drama teacher was enamoured with the company, and compared to the local theatre scene, it was another world. We would often travel to Brisbane to see main stage productions and that was where I forged my passion for acting.

I’ve since moved around the country a fair bit, settling in Sydney, which is a much bigger city for the arts. If you’re an actor in Australia, Sydney and Melbourne are without a doubt the centres, they simply have more opportunities: more theatre companies, established agents, casting directors and more productions. However, Brisbane has an active theatre scene and a number of great theatre companies. If you live in Brisbane or you’re looking to move there as an actor this should give you a rough lay of the land:

Updated Sep 12, 2023

Main Stage Theatre Companies in Brisbane

Queensland Theatre

Queensland Theatre, formerly Queensland Theatre Company, is the state theatre company of Queensland. This means it receives the lion’s share of funding and is the largest theatre company in Brisbane. Currently headed up by Sam Strong, an accomplished theatre director, the company offers a range of productions from classic works, modern international works, new Australian plays and adaptations. As with any state theatre company, Queensland Theatre caters to a strong subscriber audience, but with Sam Strong’s new team heading up the company, there has been a conscious effort to appeal to a younger and more diverse audience. This is a very exciting theatre company with a great track record.

For actors: Queensland Theatre offer general auditions for actors and recent graduates, which are worth checking out.

Queensland theatre

La Boite Theatre Company

La Boite Theatre Company is the second largest theatre company in Brisbane, Queensland. It holds a similar place in the Brisbane theatre scene as Belvoir does in Sydney and Malthouse in Melbourne. La Boite has been around for the past nine decades and so it has a solid place within the Brisbane industry. The focus of the company has always been on cultivating new works, that are particularly relevant to a Queensland audience. They still produce occasional classics and established contemporary plays, but they generally offer a slightly more alternative season than Queensland Theatre. La Boite is currently headed up by artistic director Todd MacDonald.

For Actors: La Boite offers a number training programs for actors, which are definitely worth looking into.

 

la-boite-theatre-company

Alternative/Independent Theatre Companies in Brisbane

Metro Arts

Metro Arts is not strictly a theatre company, but they present and facilitate some great theatre. They have a beautiful space on Edward Street in Brisbane CBD. The theatre produced by Metro Arts is often new works and can be quite experimental. Like with any smaller theatre company the quality of shows can vary substantially. That being said, it is always important to watch theatre and be active within your local community, so dive in.

For Actors: We recommend getting involved with the company. Learn more about Metro Arts.

Ad Astra

Tucked away in the bustling Fortitude Valley, Ad Astra is a gem of the local theatre scene. They offer a series of works across the year, and are a boiling pot of local talent. Though it’s an intimate theatre, the standard of work here often rivals many of the main stage companies. Definitely a great company to get involved in, and I highly recommend checking out some of their shows.

Pip Theatre Company

PIP Theatre Company is the new kid on the block. Headed up by the incredible Deidre Grace and Michelle Apps, this is a beautiful theatre in the heart of Milton. PIP Theatre is a pro-amateur theatre company that puts on a huge range of plays across the year. Known for their openness to working with new and emerging artists, this is one theatre company you want to be associated with.

They also run an on-going acting class in association with StageMilk, which you can learn more about here: Brisbane Acting Class.

Location: 20 Park Road, Milton QLD 4064
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (07) 3275 4900

Conclusion

Remember that it’s important as an actor to stay involved with your local theatre community. That includes getting along to see both main stage productions and independent theatre. You can’t be a theatre actor without watching theatre. Simple as that. Watching theatre is one of the most valuable things you can do as an actor. If you’re new to the city get along to a some shows and explore what they each have to offer.

 

About the Author

StageMilk Team

is made up of professional actors, acting coaches and writers from around the world. This team includes Andrew, Alex, Emma, Jake, Jake, Indiana, Patrick and more. We all work together to contribute useful articles and resources for actors at all stages in their careers.

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