La Mama Theatre, a cornerstone of Melbourne’s independent arts scene, is set to reopen in 2026 after a year-long closure due to funding challenges. The theatre plans to welcome audiences back with a unique offer: complimentary coffee for all attendees, a decision made by chief executive and artistic director Caitlin Dullard. “Everyone said we should charge for it – the margin on coffee is one of the highest around – but I held firm,” Dullard stated, underscoring the theatre’s commitment to its community-focused ethos.
Founded in 1967 by Betty Burstall, La Mama Theatre has been a trailblazer, inspired by the “coffeehouse theatre” culture she observed in New York. The venue experienced its first-ever closure for public performances in 2025 after failing to secure operational funding from the federal government, missing out twice on grants in 2020 and 2024. Dullard described the experience as “depressing,” emphasizing that while the theatre received substantial pandemic relief funding, it lacked the flexibility to allocate those resources for future needs.
In a significant move, Creative Australia announced a pilot program in November 2024, distributing $3,880,000 in two-year operational funding among twelve small to medium arts companies, with La Mama receiving $175,000 annually for two years. Despite this late support, the decision to close was already in place, allowing the theatre’s board to reflect on the necessity for diverse funding sources and to reaffirm its commitment to artistic freedom.
New Season and Initiatives
The hiatus was not a period of inactivity; La Mama hosted 88 artistic residencies throughout 2025, producing several works that will feature in the 2026 season. Dullard, also a judge on the Green Room Awards panel, seized the opportunity to observe other independent theatres. “I got the chance to check out their front of house, their production support, their publicity, everything,” she remarked. “And I’m not going to criticize other companies, but La Mama does it better.”
The 2026 season has been restructured into three distinct segments. The first, La Mama Presents, will showcase eight new works from February to May. The season kicks off with Maki Morita’s Moongazing, a fusion of digital and spiritual elements inspired by traditional Japanese masked performance. Additional highlights include the conclusion of Glenn Shea’s three-decade-long project, An Indigenous Trilogy, the satirical piece Saints from Elbow Room, and a feminist black comedy titled Stuck by Megan Twycross, directed by Susie Dee.
The development-focused segment, Play, will run from June to August, enhancing the previous La Mama Explorations initiative with an emphasis on new work and intensive workshops for mid-career writers. Although La Mama will not participate in the Midsumma or Melbourne International Comedy Festival, its Partnerships section will highlight collaborative events from September to December, including a custom Melbourne Festival of Puppetry and the expansive Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Looking to the Future
The reopening of La Mama Theatre signifies a rejuvenation for the Melbourne arts community. Audiences can look forward to an inviting atmosphere, complete with free coffee, as the theatre reaffirms its dedication to nurturing new Australian works for the stage. Dullard’s leadership is poised to ensure that La Mama remains a vital cultural institution, committed to its foundational values while embracing the need for sustainable funding and innovative programming. The future looks promising as La Mama prepares to write its next chapter in the rich tapestry of Melbourne’s theatre landscape.
