Betty Burstall

Burstall was inspired to establish the theatre after returning from New York City.^[2] She introduced off-Broadway contemporary theatre to Melbourne through La Mama.^[1] Numerous actors and writers have appeared and worked at La Mama, including Graeme Blundell, Kerry Dwyer, Jack Hibberd, and John Romeril, all of whom formed the Australian Performing Group.^[1]

In 1976, Burstall turned over the day-to-day operations of La Mama to Liz Jones,^[3] who remained the theatre's artistic director until 2023.^[4][5] Burstall continued as script adviser until 2004.^[3]

She served as one of the general members of the Australia Council from its inception in February 1973.^[6]

Burstall was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 1993 Queen's Birthday Honours.^[7] She was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2001.^[8]

Betty Burstall was predeceased by husband, film director Tim Burstall, in 2004. She died on 14 June 2013, at the age of 87,^[1] survived by two sons and their wives, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The actress Sigrid Thornton is her daughter-in-law.

A 1945 portrait of Burstall by Arthur Boyd is held by the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra,^[9] while Boyd's pencil drawing, "Betty Burstall with her son Dan" is held by the Art Gallery of South Australia.^[10]

• Betty Burstall interviewed by Hazel de Berg in the Hazel de Berg collection – audio recording