Retreat
An exhibition of paintings exploring local landscapes and private domestic environments which have become increasingly important spaces of both refuge and of tension over the last year.
Events List
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Greedy Pixiu
Greedy Pixiu are a pan Asian chimera to accompany us back from a difficult pandemic year.
RUNT | Return Season
RUNT to return to our theatre after a sold-out premiere season
Emerging Artist Award 2021
2021 submissions open!
Still by Jen Silverman
Written by one of the hottest young playwrights from New York City, Jen Silverman’s award-winning play will make you laugh, cry and reflect, often all at the same time.
King & Wood Mallesons Contemporary First Nations Art Award
In its second season, the Award is a biennial competition established by KWM to promote and encourage the highest standard of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art practice in Australia.
Fantastique! The Life and Loves of Hector Berlioz
LIVE AT VENUE OR LIVESTREAM AT HOME
Created using journal entries, letters and articles from Berlioz’s life, combined with a selection of his songs, and transcriptions of his orchestral works
HERE again
HERE again is part of fortyfivedownstairs' Fragments online series. The exhibition brings together artists from the fortyfivedownstairs community, many who have had exhibitions affected by Melbourne’s six lockdowns to date. This is a chance to experience new work created in these challenging times, as well as sneak peeks into forthcoming exhibitions.
Step. Float. Fly
Step. Float. Fly has been formed through a warm and sometimes mysterious observation of people and animals as they engage within everyday activities and moments of contemplation.
Silence #1.6: The Beauty in Death
Silence #1.6 is a philosophical study of mindfulness that all metaphysical conditions co-exist, and that death can provide a beautiful insight to understand and appreciate life.
Capturing Moments – People and Places
An exhibition of sketches, paintings and drawings capturing people and places.
King Lear Online
A moving contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy
Duo Eclettico Online: Solicitude
Watch the recording of Duo Eclettico's 'Solstice' concert, filmed during a live Zoom broadcast in January 2021.
Coady Green & Christopher Smith Online
Watch the recording of a rare virtuosic event - Liszt's complete Hungarian Rhapsodies, arranged for piano four hands.
Solstice Trio Online
Watch Solstice Trio at home. A program of New York-based composers at the boundaries of contemporary classical, jazz and electronic music.
Collide Online: Unity
Watch Collide at home, sharing with you their blend of colour, fervour, and spirit with works of Mozart, Glinka, Milhaud
Rathdowne Quartet & Tamara Smolyar Online
Watch Rathdowne Quartet with Tamara Smolyar at home as they perform one of the greatest chamber works ever written.
Just a Boy, Standing in Front of a Girl | POSTPONED |
From the creators of 'The Yellow Wave' and 'Cuckoo' comes a Medea for our times.
Voyage Online
A new Australian musical written by Helen Begley.
Zoe Knighton/Pia Johnson Bach Project Online
Two iconic Melbourne artists join forces for a unique and magical collaboration.
Kavisha Mazzella Online
A moving online concert with ARIA Award-winner Kavisha Mazella filled with storytelling and music.
Barry Jones & Friends Celebrate the Arts 2021
Join us live online for an afternoon of poetry and music celebrating Barry Jones' 89th birthday
Luke Severn & Elyane Laussade Online
Experience the full spectrum of emotion and intimacy that the cello and piano execute so well.
Barry Jones & Friends Celebrate the Arts 2021
Watch the recording of the live online poetry and music event celebrating the 89th birthday of Barry Jones at home.
The Long Pigs Online
In a surreal world that could have been created by Jean-Pierre Jeunet or Tim Burton, this very black comedy pushes the boundaries of physical theatre - watch it online at home!
White Day Dream Online
A unique fusion between Butoh and physical theatre performed by dancers with and without disability, White Day Dream moves between the surreal and absurd exploring universal human themes of memory and dreams.
Tales from the Greek: Myth, Beauty and Brutality
Tales from the Greek is a new exhibition and book launch by award winning international artist Marco Luccio who has once again united with award winning and Miles Franklin shortlisted author John Hughes.
Kefi
Taxithi Project invites you to welcome summer with party songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s.
The New Impromptu Quartet
The New Impromptu Quartet is thrilled to return to fortyfivedownstairs this November!
Hell Ship: The Journey of the Ticonderoga
In 1852, Michael Veitch’s great-great grandfather confronted a deadly epidemic head-on, as the ship’s surgeon on the emigrant clipper Ticonderoga’s nighmare voyage from Liverpool to Melbourne. Resonating powerfully with today’s world, Hell Ship is a story of hope, love and survival.
Alter Edith
Alter Edith is a cycle of almost performances amongst extra-terrestrial environments. Edith is an alien trying earthly sentiments. Her curiosity of Earthly delights creates mobile museums in real-time.
Coastline
A series of paper cuts, collages and paintings depicting the Victorian southern coastline in the context of climate change and rising sea levels.
Entering the Subconscious: The COVID Works
Entering the Subconscious is a series of ink paintings that began at the beginning of COVID-19 in March 2020 and continued during the ongoing lockdowns in Melbourne in the intervening months. These works in sequence chart a journey as time in lockdown progressed.
Jane Hammond’s ‘Songs of the Helmeted Honeyeater’ and Ross Edwards’ ‘Full Moon Dances’
LIVE AT VENUE OR LIVESTREAM AT HOME
The world premiere of Jane Hammond's homage to the Helmeted Honeyeater; and a new arrangement of Ross Edwards’ vibrant saxophone concerto
Eight Hands
LIVE AT VENUE OR LIVESTREAM AT HOME
A rare and spectacular event performed by four popular Melbourne pianists