In 1931 they held their inaugural Australian Playwriting Competition, the winning play causing controversy when it was performed because of its realistic subject matter and coarse language.

However, one by one theatres closed and with the demolition of the Albert Hall in 1967, the last available and affordable venue for productions in the central city area was lost.

The society looked for a way to continue productions and decided to establish a permanent home "where the theatre's image could flourish and members would be welcome at all times".

[1] The society had acquired two timber cottages on the corner of Hale and Sexton Streets, Petrie Terrace in the late 1950s for use as clubrooms.

[1] Theatre in the round would extend the range of theatrical experience available to the Brisbane public and allow actors and directors to employ new techniques.

There was an increasing overseas trend for more flexible performance space and a theatre in the round offered the simplest and cheapest way of achieving this.

The equipment and scenery needed was not as elaborate as that required for a conventional theatre and seating capacity could be smaller so that an existing building could be utilised.

In spite of the small space and limited technical facilities, a lack of proper seating and air conditioning, the new theatre was an artistic success.

At the time, theatres provided elaborate settings were the audience went to see and be seen and were seated on the ground floor and in rows of tiers and boxes facing a picture frame stage.

[1] In a reaction to the proscenium stage, a movement began in the mid-20th century to design theatres with the performing area placed centrally in the auditorium.

Margo Jones in Dallas, Texas, who studied this concept and used it for productions, wrote an influential book on her work, Theater-in-the-Round (1951).

Notable examples of theatres associated with developing this concept are the Arena Stage in Washington, DC, USA (1961) and the Royal Exchange in Manchester, England (1976).

This was done by modifying some details, reusing lighting and sound equipment from the old building and reducing costs for materials and finishes.

[1] Utilising reject bricks that had chipped corners or minor irregularities of shape effected a major saving.

[1] Brisbane Repertory Theatre continued to be innovative and established the Early Childhood Drama Project in 1975 and held its first season of all Australian plays in 1980.

[2] La Boite Theatre illustrates its name, being literally a box-shaped brick building with rounded corners.

[1] There is rehearsal space, a workshop, storage, office and dressing rooms in a basement area below the stage and a gallery above.

[1] La Boite Theatre was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 30 January 2004 having satisfied the following criteria.