After 25 years of creating bold, necessary, and deeply personal work, The Living Room Theatre has found a permanent home. For the first time in our history, we now have a dedicated space to sustain our practice — a place where time, freedom, and artistic curiosity can take root.

21 Shepherd: More Than a Venue
Located in a former women’s garment factory, 21 Shepherd is being transformed into a flexible and inclusive arts hub. It will support a wide range of artistic endeavours — from rehearsals and residencies to collaborative workshops, presentations, and performances. Offering affordable and adaptable spaces, it creates the conditions for artists to work without the limits of traditional venues.

Design with Purpose
The design of 21 Shepherd centres on versatility. It will feature a Tarkett floor for contemporary dance, a Kawai GX3 Grand Piano, and a performance space that can be reconfigured to meet the needs of each project. A foyer and theatre bar will welcome artists and audiences alike, while thoughtfully chosen materials will balance warmth, texture, and durability, honouring the building’s history.

Opening Doors
21 Shepherd is also about exchange. Through initiatives like our “Open Doors” program, audiences will be invited to step into the creative process with artist talks, workshops, and informal previews. Its social and event spaces will act as meeting points for dialogue and collaboration, weaving artists and audiences into a shared cultural fabric.

A Legacy of Healing and Social Change
Rooted in The Living Room Theatre’s values, 21 Shepherd will hold space for exploring trauma, violence, and the dignity of women — continuing our legacy of art as advocacy, healing, and social change. This is a place where difficult questions can be faced with care and imagination.

Looking Ahead
As we begin this next chapter, we are offering independent artists subsidised rent to ensure access and affordability. Expressions of interest are open, with details available at here.

21 Shepherd is not simply a venue. It is a commitment to the long, slow work of making art. A place to sit with questions, to embrace risk, and to continue telling stories that matter.

Article by Priyanka Smithfield