La Mama Emerge 2026
La Mama Emerge 2026 EOIs open 18 March – 14 April 2026
La Mama Theatre is thrilled to announce Emerge 2026, with generous support from the Mietta Foundation.
EMERGE is an open-access program for theatre makers aged 18–26.
Emerge runs from 6 June to 29 August 2026, with weekly Saturday workshops from 12:30–4:30pm, culminating in a public outcome presented as part of the La Mama Hope Punk Climate Festival in September 2026.
Emerge Offers
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Weekly Saturday workshops (12:30–4:30pm) at La Mama Courthouse Theatre, 349 Drummond Street, Carlton
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Guest Artist workshops
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Ensemble building and creative experimentation
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Dramaturgical shaping and rehearsal support
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Industry talks, theatre visits, and producer-model mentorship
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A fully supported public outcome at the Hope Punk Climate Festival
Participants gain real-world production experience, build peer networks, and receive professional exposure as part of La Mama’s nationally respected independent theatre community.
2026 Guest Facilitators
Pummel Squad
Award-winning theatre collective making big, loud, poor theatre—cartoonish, sweaty, and gloriously excessive. Cooper Donald McDonald, Ludomyr Kemp-Mykyta, Harry McGee, and Mark Pritchard champion collaboration, irreverence, and high-impact performance driven by imagination and risk.
Susan Bamford Caleo
Accredited Roy Hart Voice Centre Teacher, Vocal Combat Trainer, Vocal Massage Therapist and performer, Susan’s focus is exploring the expressive potential of the voice and the body in new music and performance works for both live production and recordings. She specialises in embodied, extended, and extreme vocal practice, teaching privately and at institutions including the Victorian College of the Arts and is an Artist in Residence at the Body Voice Centre.
Morgan Rose
Morgan Rose was born in New Orleans, grew up in New Mexico, and currently lives in Melbourne. She is an internationally produced playwright, performance maker, and dramaturg. Works include: The BachelorS17E05 (co-creator, The People/La Mama), and desert, 6:29pm (Red Stitch). She is the co-artistic director of Rawcus (rawcus.org.au). More at roseisnotarose.com.
Rodrigo Calderón
Salvadoran-born director, performer, writer and teacher whose practice centres the body as a communicative and political force, constantly pushing boundaries across cultures through socially engaged, psychophysically-driven theatre. Rodrigo has worked across Argentina, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, El Salvador, and Australia.
La Mama is excited to welcome these inspiring artists to guide participants through this 3-month intensive program of workshops, ensemble building, and professional development, culminating in a public outcome at the Hope Punk Climate Festival.
Key Dates
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EOIs Open: 18 March – 14 April 2026
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Program Runs: 6 June – 29 August 2026
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Festival Outcome: 31 August – 20 September 2026
Who Should Apply
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Emerging Victorian theatre makers aged 18–25
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Artists in their first ten years of practice
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Those without access to tertiary training or established networks are strongly encouraged
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Up to 15 participants will be selected through an open EOI process
How to Apply
Fill in the EOI Form below and submit
To apply, you have the option to submit your application in writing or as a short video — whichever works best for you.
Written application: Answer all questions directly in the EOI form above.
Video application: Answer all questions and record your answers in a video. For each question you answer in your video, simply write “Please see video” in the EOI form above.
Tips for video applications:
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Keep your video clear and concise (2–5 minutes total).
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Include your name in the video or file name.
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Complete any mandatory form details (e.g., contact info, availability).
Please note:
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Participants must be available to attend all program dates to take part.
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Late applications will not be accepted due to tight timeframes.
If you have any questions or need support with your application, please contact Myf Powell, Pathways & Partnerships Manager, at [email protected].
Thanks to the Mietta Foundation, the Emerge Program is completely free for participants—a $2,000 professional development opportunity for each artist.
