On Friday 31 March – 50 years since she first started working at La Mama in March 1973 – Dr Liz Jones AO stepped down as our Artistic Director.
The intimate occasion in the La Mama courtyard also marked a passing of the torch to our new CEO, Caitlin Dullard.
As Chair of La Mama’s Committee of Management, I wanted to take a moment to thank Liz deeply and sincerely for her skilled custodianship of La Mama over many decades. Her commitment to the primacy of the artist and her championing of diverse voices has ensured La Mama’s place in the cultural history of the nation; simultaneously, her foresight and careful succession planning have meant we’re well positioned for the future.
Liz will continue to play an important part at La Mama, advising on scripts and working on a project to rebuild the stories that were destroyed when 40 years of her personal diaries were lost in the devastating 2018 fire.
I also want to welcome Caitlin formally as the new steward of La Mama’s rich history. Coupled with the skills of our exceptional staff, Caitlin’s steady hand at the helm will guide us securely into the future.
Given the uncertainties of government funding, however, we can’t rest on our laurels.
There has never been a more important time to provide opportunities for artists to develop, practice and present work, and I know the team at La Mama are completely dedicated to this vital task.
With your support, La Mama can realise its vision of facilitating fearlessly independent theatre-making now and into the future. Whether $500 or $50, every dollar donated to La Mama enables and empowers artists to do what they do best: make art.
I encourage you to donate today online and play a part in La Mama’s exciting next chapter.
Viva La Mama!
Richard Watts,
Chair, La Mama Committee of Management
Images: Feature Image: Liz Jones and Richard Watts at Liz’s farewell in 2023. Image Darren Gill
Below: Co-CEOs Caitlin Dullard and Liz Jones in 2018. Image Daniel Pockett
