For the people behind the shows.
We share the practical skills, industry knowledge and real-world know-how that producers are often expected to pick up along the way. From budgets and contracts to marketing, touring and building a sustainable practice, our training is practical, current and led by producers and industry experts who actually do the work.
Producer development has been part of MILKE for more than a decade. Through workshops, mentoring and training programs, we’ve helped producers build practical skills, industry knowledge and connections.
For over ten years, we’ve also supported the MILKE Emerging Producer Award at Melbourne Fringe and Adelaide Fringe, recognising emerging producing talent and creating new opportunities and pathways into the industry.
In 2024, we took that commitment a step further with the launch of The Producer Lab. Since then, hundreds of producers across Australia have taken part in our online and in-person programs, connecting producers with practical training, industry expertise and each other.
The MILKE Producer Mentoring Program (MPMP) is our year-round development program for emerging and independent producers.
It combines mentoring, practical training, industry access and real-world producing experience, helping participants build their skills, networks and careers. To date, more than $50,000 has been paid directly to participating producers through this program.
In 2026, we’re teaming up with Adelaide Fringe to deliver the Producer Accelerator, a dedicated training program designed to give producers the practical skills and knowledge to navigate Fringe and build what comes next.
It’s the next step in what The Producer Lab is here to do: share producing knowledge, build stronger career pathways and invest in the people behind the work.
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Who Is Milke?
Good Question!
MILKE is an independent producing company founded by Laura Milke Garner in 2008.
We develop, produce and tour comedy, theatre and cabaret in Australia and internationally, working with artists from the first spark of an idea through to major seasons and new markets.
We’ve worked with hundreds of artists, with work presented at the Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne, Malthouse Theatre, Sydney Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, RISING, Melbourne Fringe, Adelaide Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, Soho Theatre London and the Venice Biennale. More recently, our work has reached London’s West End and Off-Broadway in New York, collaborating with international partners and producers to take Australian work to new audiences.
We’re also serious about developing the people behind the shows. For more than 10 years, MILKE has delivered producer training and workshops, sharing practical knowledge and creating pathways for producers to build their careers. That work is now home at The Producer Lab..
Oh, and it’s pronounced like ‘milky’ but spelled with an ‘e’.
Behind the scenes on shows with big names, up-and-comers and everyone in between LMG is the Producer and CEO behind MILKE.
I’m a producer and the founder of MILKE and The Producer Lab.
I’ve been producing live performance for more than 27 years, working with artists to develop, produce and tour their work across Australia and internationally. Since establishing MILKE in 2008, I’ve produced work across theatre, comedy and cabaret, from independent festivals through to the Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne, Soho Theatre London, the Venice Biennale, London’s West End and Off-Broadway in New York.
Producing is an industry you learn by doing. Over the years I’ve learnt a lot about what works, what doesn’t, and the things nobody really tells you when you’re starting out.
For more than a decade, developing other producers has been an important part of my work, through mentoring, training and creating opportunities for people to build their own producing careers.
I created The Producer Lab to take that work further. It’s a place to share knowledge, learn from experienced people across the industry and give producers practical skills they can actually use.
Whether you’re producing your first show or have been doing this for years, I hope there’s something here for you.
We acknowledge and respect the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work, create and live.