AustLit

Melbourne's Little Theatre Company was established as a semi-professional company by then unemployed actors Brett Randall and Hal Percy. With the aim of presenting plays of literary value, and with the best available performers, Randell and Percy's Little Theatre Laboratory of Dramatic Art staged its debut production in December 1931. The following month they converted a kiosk at Fawkner Park, South Yarra, into a theatre and gave their first production there, as Little Theatre Company, with The Rescue Party by English playwright Phyllis Morris. Among the local works to be produced at the Kiosck Theatre was Betty Roland's Morning. During the first year the company staged three night seasons each month, presented Sunday play readings, and launched an acting school. By 1934 its popularity led to a relocation to larger premises at the nearby St Chad's Church on Martin Street, and at its peak the company had a subscription base of more than 1,500 people. Irene Mitchell, an early leading lady with the company, also went non to become one of its driving forces and eventually took on the position of Artistic Director.

In 1948, under Randall's direction, Melbourne Little Theatre generated a subsidiary touring company named Everyman's Theatre. Three years later (1951), Randall and his administration reorganised the company into the Melbourne Little Theatre Guild, and began raiding funds to build purpose-built theatre on the St Chad's site. The new Little Theatre, which seated over 1,400 people, opened in August 1956. Not long after the opening, the street on to which it fronted was changed by Melbourne City Council to St. Martin's Lane (after the London theatre district). In August 1962 the building was renamed the St Martin's Theatre. The company which subsequently became known as St Martin's Theatre Company also evolved into fully professional, subscriber based organisation.

By the late-1960s the company's ecomonic viability had declined as a result of decearsing subscriptions and increasing competition from subsidised theatres. Although the company finally receieved its first subsidy in 1969 it was too little too late and the St Martin's Theatre Company folded in 1974. The building was leased by the Melbourne Theatre Company until 1977. IT was subsequently purchased by the Victorian Government and converted into the St Martin's Youth Centre in 1980. It underwent considerable remodelling in 1982, with one of the major undertakings being a second performance space (known as St. Martin's Two). When reopened the premises became known as the St Martin's Youth Arts Centre.

[Sources: Companion to Theatre in Australia (1995), 'Little Theatre Big Ambition' Table Talk (1932)].