Following the success of 'kerosene' and 'SIRENS', Nichol continues his anthology series exploring love and loneliness across Australia with two new works written for and performed by Brigid Gallacher ('In The Club', Theatreworks) and Charles Purcell ('Apokalypsis', The Substation). Milk and Blood both present unflinching examinations of violence and desire, shame and self-sabotage, and the power of redemption.
'Just A Sheila', by sculptor and mixed media artist Josie Lowerson, explores a sculptural narrative of social and domestic situations observed from a female perspective. The exhibition portrays the feminine sensuality and struggle of women, whilst revealing the conflict between necessity and the desire to pursue goals.
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.
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.
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.
Robert Lee Davis' 'Community Art Card Project' returns to fortyfivedownstairs for the second consecutive year. More details coming soon...
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.
fortyfivedownstairs presents 'FORT EARTH PROJECT + EXHIBITION 2024' by FORT HEART.
'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' 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.
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.
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.
fortyfivedownstairs presents 'Africa, the pain and the beauty' by Brigitte Marie Pascal. More details coming soon...
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 .
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.
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' by Justine McAllister is a celebration of celebration of liberated chaos, where conventions are dismantled and expectations are cast aside.
‘Dark Waters’ showcases paintings and drawings through which artist Mary Koniavitis explores the enigmatic depths of the unconscious.
Poet Tree is a collection of drawings by Chloe Vallance that pause in places of wonder.
Dorothy Lipmann's collection of abstract paintings in 'Walkaway' explores the situations of elderly homeless women.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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' 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.
This unique exhibition features 7 x 5 inch paintings capturing iconic views of Melbourne by Chris Pelchen.
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.
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.
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' 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.
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.
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.