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  • UNVEILING ECHOES, PASSAGE TO SEEDING HOPE

    Lea Rose

    Lea Rose is an environmental and ecological, Naarm (Melbourne) based emerging artist who integrates their art practice with scientific field research. Rose is 2024 PhD candidate (Geography and Indigenous Knowledge Institute) Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. In ‘Unveiling Echoes, Passage to Seeding Hope’ Rose invites the viewer, through muti-dimensional immersive art forms to contemplate the devastating impacts of colonisation on the Australian environment. Through Rose’s photographic works, film, printmaking, painting and installations, the potentiality for environmental recovery is explored by posing questions around land use and conservation in the Australian context. Rose seeks to inspire a sense of reverence for the beauty and resilience of the natural world, encouraging the viewer to play a role in natures preservation.

  • Hamlet

    Melbourne Shakespeare Company

    Following the success of 'Julius Caesar' last year, Melbourne Shakespeare Company returns to fortyfivedownstairs to present Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy 'Hamlet'. Directed by multi-award winning director Iain Sinclair ('A View from a Bridge' at MTC / 'Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf?' at the Ensemble Theatre) and starring Jacob Collins Levy ('The Witcher' / 'Dr Who') in the title role.

  • Hiding rock pools

    Elena Valimberti

    This exhibition brings together figure paintings by Naarm based artist Elena Valimberti. From Valimberti's "Shed series" of paintings, she works to transform the mundane into something quietly beautiful through traditional oil painting.

  • The Community Art Card Project

    Robert Lee Davis

    Robert Lee Davis' 'Community Art Card Project' returns to fortyfivedownstairs for the second consecutive year. More details coming soon...

  • BAD BOY

    Dee, Cornelius, and Wilks in association with fortyfivedownstairs

    From the team behind the acclaimed production of 'RUNT' – writer Patricia Cornelius ('Do not go gentle…'), director Susie Dee ('Savages'), and performer Nicci Wilks ('SHIT') – comes 'BAD BOY', a searing new work that boldly tackles the enormous issue of misogyny and domestic violence.

  • Aftermath

    Justin Ness

    'Aftermath' is a stunning photographic collection by Justin Ness showcasing the natural beauty of Tyagarah Nature Reserve following the 2023 bushfire. These photographs reveals the profound impact of climate change on this delicate ecosystem.

  • Working Memories

    Group Show

    'Working Memories' is a contemporary textile art exhibition that unites the works of Helvi Apted, Elise Cakebread, Janelle Evans, Rebecca George, Phong Chi Lai, Carolyn Menzies, Tamara Russell, Britt Salt, and Shannon Slee under the theme of memory.

  • BLOOM

    Jasper Ly and Peter Dumsday

    Melbourne based oboist, Jasper Ly, is a versatile and dynamic performer who aims to captivate and transport his audience through musical settings ranging from classical to contemporary. Joined by pianist, Peter Dumsday, the duo proudly presents BLOOM – an evocative and atmospheric performance of modern Australian works inspired by the splendour of nature and bird songs.

  • Where Land Speaks – Across the Top End

    Terry Swann

    fortyfivedownstairs presents 'Across the Top End - Where Land Speaks' by Terry Swann, one of Australia's foremost contemporary watercolourists. Painting on location, she uses her emotional response to capture the essence of the Australian outback- in colour, texture and movement.

  • Africa, the pain and the beauty

    Brigitte Marie Pascal

    fortyfivedownstairs presents 'Africa, the pain and the beauty' by Brigitte Marie Pascal. More details coming soon...

  • Bruised River II

    SARAY Iluminado Quartet featuring Donna Dimovski-Kantarovski & Goran Ðurić

    Following on from their Refugee Week immersive experience at the Salon, MRC, SARAY Iluminado continues to explore the poetic significance of rivers and waters in Bosnian Sevdah and Sephardic Jewish music, as well as in Nela Trifkovic’s original compositions in their next work Bruised River II . 

  • Barry Jones and friends celebrate poetry and music 2024

    Another afternoon of poetry and music for Barry Jones’ birthday! This year, the event will be held in the theatre at fortyfivedownstairs. Guests are invited to arrive via the wonderful gallery space to enjoy the superb exhibition of paintings by Barry’s friend Terry Swann. Terry travels to outback Australia to capture the astonishing scenery on location and is considered one of Australia’s foremost contemporary watercolourists. The gallery will be open to guests from 1pm to allow time to enjoy these beautiful works before heading down to the theatre at 1:45pm.

  • Rhinoceros

    Spinning Plates Co.

    Spinning Plates Co. re-teams with director Cassandra Fumi and the creative team behind their enormously successful production of 'THE CROCODILE' for the second instalment in their ‘Beast Trilogy’. Brought stampeding into the 21st Century, Ionesco’s absurdist classic locks horns with conformity and responsibility as a town is thrown into chaos when, one by one, its residents begin transforming into Rhinoceroses.

  • Romantic Rebellion

    Justine McAllister

    'Romantic Rebellion' by Justine McAllister is a celebration of celebration of liberated chaos, where conventions are dismantled and expectations are cast aside.

  • Dark Waters

    Mary Koniavitis

    ‘Dark Waters’ showcases paintings and drawings through which artist Mary Koniavitis explores the enigmatic depths of the unconscious.

  • Poet Tree

    Chloe Vallance

    Poet Tree is a collection of drawings by Chloe Vallance that pause in places of wonder.

  • Walkaway

    Dorothy Lipmann

    Dorothy Lipmann's collection of abstract paintings in 'Walkaway' explores the situations of elderly homeless women.

  • The Hall

    Bullet Heart Club

    Featuring a live choir and original songs by Ro Bright ('Daffodils', Edinburgh Fringe Festival) and Pat Irwin (SUSS, The B-52’s), this ceremonious and candid story about unconditional love and the power of community is presented by Bullet Heart Club, directed by Kitan Petkovski ('The Inheritance'), and features stage luminary Natasha Herbert.

  • SMALL!

    fortyfivedownstairs presents

    fortyfivedownstairs is excited to once again be hosting our community-sourced, small works exhibition SMALL! SMALL! is an opportunity to see the walls of fortyfivedownstairs covered with an endless variety of styles and media including painting, drawing and sketches, prints, textiles, and small sculptural works.

  • ILARUN: The Cutting Comb

    Amarantha Robinson and Quiet Riot

    Down in dark dank cellars, Black women are milked commodities. But when a mystical encounter unhinges a docile slave, divine danger rises. Written by Amarantha Robinson ('Oshun', La Mama) and presented by Quiet Riot, this lyrical ensemble experience fuses Afro-Caribbean mysticism and history with dance and drumming to give a transmission of awakening and power.

  • The Highly Strung Players

    The Highly Strung Players

    The Highly Strung Players return to fortyfivedownstairs with two new works by award-winning author Peter Rose, who founded this troupe more than thirty years ago. As always, the comedy is sharp, mordant and absurdist. The Players will be joined by Julian McCarthy on percussion.

  • The Friends of Yule

    Joachim Coghlan

    An original theatrical song cycle by composer/performer Joachim Coghlan (performed by Coghlan and Alexandra Aldrich) that gleefully explores the most wonderfully profound, eccentric, cheesy, and seemingly bizarre Christmas stories and traditions.

  • Divergent archetypes for old ideas

    Brent Leideritz

    Brent Leideritz's collection of photographic and promptographic portraits proposes new ways of being, where queer and alternative performances of self stand against notions of shame and judgement.

  • what lies in the underneath

    Ned Brook

    Ned Brook’s first solo exhibition will showcase drawings, paintings, and sculptures created through spontaneous mark-making and physical expression. Brook's artistic practice is both an exploration of the emotional impact of his mental health struggles and a healing creative process in itself.

  • ROOM-ED

    Hyun Joo Kim (Julia)

    'ROOM-ED' by Hyun-Joo Kim (Julia) merges traditional textile and craft techniques with contemporary mediums, including sculpture, sound performance, and video, to create an immersive installation.

  • Seven X Five

    Chris Pelchen

    This unique exhibition features 7 x 5 inch paintings capturing iconic views of Melbourne by Chris Pelchen.

  • Compose Queer x Queerstories

    Featuring twelve world-premiere commissions from twelve composers, this boldly ambitious initiative sees the Divisi Chamber Singers, one of Australia’s most exciting vocal ensembles, partner with Maeve Marsden, curator of the beloved Queerstories project. Divisi, accompanied by pianist Coady Green, will take audiences on a journey through stories of love, pain, joy, and friendship in this unprecedented celebration of queer artistry and experience, presented as part of Midsumma Festival 2025.

  • POTUS

    When a White House PR nightmare spins into a full-blown shitshow, seven brilliant and beleaguered women must risk life and liberty to keep the commander-in-chief out of trouble. Lightning Jar Theatre returns to fortyfivedownstairs following their enormously successful production of Mr Burns: a post electric play in 2019, teaming with Trophy Boys director Marni Mount to present the Australian premiere of Selina Fillinger's whip smart, all female farce, featuring Lucy Ansell, Carolyn Bock, Candy Bowers, Jen Bush, Liliana Dalton, Hannah Greenwood, Tilly Legge, and AYA.

  • “why do birds suddenly appear”

    Adam Sime

    Adam Sime's collection of paintings in ''why do birds suddenly appear" are an aspect of thought, long-considered, looking for the tension, looking for release, loaded with memory.

  • Beyond Flinders

    Rick Eckersley

    'Beyond Flinders' by Rick Eckersley is a collection of works on canvas that examine the connections between garden making, nature, and memory, inspired by Musk Cottage Garden in Flinders, Victoria.

  • Inside/Outside (U.S.A)

    In ‘Inside/Outside (U.S.A)’ James Bryans (re)captures iconic American landmarks frequently depicted in film and television, revealing the strangeness, unfamiliarity and complexity of this supposedly familiar land and culture.

  • Still

    Alexandra Lewisohn

    Alexandra Lewisohn’s exhibition ‘Still’ continues her exploration of intimate still lifes inspired by the patterns and colours of her surroundings. Her paintings are distinctly decorative, featuring detailed arrangements of lamps, flowers, vases, mirrors, and fabric.

  • Boys on the Verge of Tears

    Set entirely in a men’s public bathroom, Sam Grabiner’s award-winning play captures the raw, unfiltered lives of boys and men grappling with the complexities of masculinity. In this Australian premiere, presented by The Maybe Pile (Trophy Boys) and directed by Keegan Bragg (MinterEllison Future Director 2023), five of Melbourne's premiere actors - including Karl Richmond (The Inheritance) and Ben Walter (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) - bring to life a boggling array of characters caught in moments of chaos, bravado, and surprising tenderness.

  • Noctum

    John Mezzini

    John Mezzini’s series of portraits in "Noctum" explores the search for the perfection of our outer persona, internal experience, trust in one another, and pleasure.