La Mama Theatre, one of the crucibles of contemporary theatre in Australia, will cease public performance throughout 2025 in order to “completely review its operations”.

In a statement released on La Mama’s website, Artistic Director Caitlin Dullard and the La Mama Committee of Management announced that the historic Carlton venue will be shuttered throughout 2025 in a “temporary pause”.

La Mama. Photo © Glenn Hester

The decision comes in the wake of an unsuccessful attempt to secure Creative Australia organisational funding for 2025-2028.

“We had also been unsuccessful with this application in 2020,” noted the statement. “[B]ut through the Federal Government’s RISE funding, significant pandemic support from Creative Victoria, Job Keeper and generous private donations, all of which we are extremely grateful for, we were able to continue delivering on our core mission: to facilitate fearlessly independent theatre making.”

“However, without Creative Australia’s organisational funding, our current way of operating is not viable.”

La Mama offered artists its stage, ticketing, front of house, marketing and technical support, together with a modest production budget and 80 percent of box office takings. La Mama took 20 percent. Now, says La Mama’s management team, “we are choosing...