Backbone Youth Arts can trace its history back to 1972 when La Boite Theatre began regular workshops with children and young people in Hale Street. In 1987 Ludmilla and Michael Doneman were invited to bring the theatre’s youth activities together as La Boite Youth Theatre, presenting a mix of workshops and youth-oriented main-stage productions. This youth program assumed its own identity as La Byte Theatre in 1989 when Tony Auckland was appointed Director and continued a mix of workshops and text-based theatrical productions.

In 1992 with the appointment of Susan Richer as Artistic Director La Byte began to forge an identity as a leader in youth arts processes and philosophy.  This was affirmed by the development of the 2high Festival and receipt of annual State government funding.

In 1995 Louise Hollingworth took over Artistic Direction and a year later oversaw the establishment of Backbone Youth Arts as an incorporated association in its own right.  At this time Backbone left La Boite Theatre on Hale Street and, following a brief stay on Petrie Terrace, took up residence in the current location of Metro Arts in the heart of the Brisbane CBD. Since this time Artistic Directors have been Lana Gishkariani (1998 -2001), Brendan Ross (2002 – 2003), Titiana Varkopoulas (2004), Fraser Corfield (2005 – 2009) and Andrew Cory (2009 – current).