General summation of Australian theatre

Sydney and Melbourne are the primary theatre hubs in Australia, though all major cities have professional theatre companies serving them and a large number of productions from Sydney and Melbourne tour the country.

In Sydney, the Sydney Theatre Company and Company B are seen as the major players on the theatre scene. The Sydney Theatre Company, often referred to as the STC, is run by Artistic Directors Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton. Company B, more commonly referred to as the Belvoir Street Theatre, is under the guidance of Neil Armfield.

Smaller companies such as the Griffin Theatre Company and the Darlinghurst Theatre Company also play a vital role. Sydney is also serviced by a strong independent theatre scene, incorporating a large number of venues including the TAP Gallery at Darlinghurst and the Newtown Theatre at Newtown.

In Melbourne, the Melbourne Theatre Company and Malthouse Theatre Company are seen as the major companies in what is often called the artistic capital of Australia. While Melbourne is not as strong as Sydney in terms of independent theatre, it has an extremely strong fringe and festival scene.

The LaMama theatre is one of the city's oldest and most respected.

Perth has the Black Swan Theatre Company and the Perth Theatre Company, while Adelaide is serviced by the State Theatre Company of South Australia and, like Melbourne, is known for its festivals.

Australia is also serviced by a strong and vibrant musical theatre scene. The only company dedicated to producing musicals is Kookaburra, however a large number of entertainment producers - including Jacobsen Entertainment, GFO and New Theatricals - regularly present major commercial shows in some of Australia's biggest entertainment venues.