As artistic director of La Mama Theatre, Liz Jones has been a cornerstone of Melbourne’s independent theatre scene since 1976. Her steadfast commitment the ‘low financial risk, high artistic risk’ ethos has ensured La Mama remains a place where experimental and emerging theatre-makers can try out new ideas and hone their craft.

Liz is deeply committed to creating opportunities to artists who are under-represented in the mainstream. In the 1980s she addressed the gender imbalance in writing and directing roles, and in the 1990s she created new opportunities for indigenous theatre makers, including actively supporting the reinvigoration of Ilbijerri Theatre.

Liz’s commitment to Australian theatre extends beyond her work with La Mama. She has served on numerous government committees and the boards of several theatre companies; represented Australia at the Women’s International Playwrights’ Conference four times; mentored emerging artists and maintained a performing career and raised five children.

Liz has received numerous honours including the 2000 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award Facilitator’s Prize, 2001 Green Room Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2018 Australia Council Award for Theatre. She holds an honorary Doctorate of Laws from ANU and her name is on the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll. She was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2012.

After La Mama was gutted by fire in 2018, messages of support poured in from far and wide, which is testament to the place that Liz and La Mama have in the Melbourne theatre community’s heart. After forty years at the helm of La Mama, Liz is involved in the fundraising campaign to rebuild the theatre.