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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261201
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261203
DTSTAMP:20261001T032156Z
CREATED:20260909T024747Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T032156Z
UID:10004636-1796083200-1796255999@fortyfivedownstairs.com
SUMMARY:The Highly Strung Players
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”ffds-theatre-company”]\nThe Highly Strung Players present\n[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1787120894620{padding-bottom: 5px !important;}” el_class=”ffds-theatre-title”]\nThe Marriage Game & The Volcano\n[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1787120907426{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}” el_class=”ffds-theatre-dates”]1 – 2 December 2026[/vc_column_text]book online for the marriage game book online for the volcano [vc_empty_space]book online for double bill [/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” el_class=”ffds-theatre-details”][vc_column width=”2/3″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1517986542329{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517986153292{padding-bottom: 5px !important;}”]\nSHOW DETAILS:\n[/vc_column_text][vc_separator align=”align_left” el_width=”40″ color=”custom” el_id=”ffds-theatre-divider”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none” css=”.vc_custom_1788922190220{padding-top: 5px !important;}”]Tuesday 1 December – Wednesday 2 December 2026\n\nduration: 90 minutes\ntimes: 7:30pm\nticket price: $25 – $65\nbookings: 03 9662 9966 \nwarnings: TBC[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_tabs][vc_tta_section tab_id=”1451285630039-f4b33ad9-e29065c5-b63365ad-01c60201-342dcb0a-2ec9a177-581a2513-a5c51f1f-8993a3c4-5ca5cb85-3d54189f-4d6f8ba6-b9f1c796-b36f” title=”Description”][vc_column_text]Over the past decade the Highly Strung Players have been entertaining audiences with performances of Peter Rose’s short plays. This absurdist troupe\, which began appearing at fortyfivedownstairs in 2017\, presents rehearsed readings with a changing ensemble. Now the Highly Strung Players return to fortyfivedownstairs with its most ambitious program yet: a two-night season of four inter-related plays\, with Rose’s trademark ironies and satire. Along the way we meet or learn about many of his eccentric characters\, including the enigmatic and much-maligned Vanessa. The season culminates with Rose’s latest play\, The Volcano. Audiences can expect two nights of sophisticated humour and absurdist leaps. \n“The Highly Strung Players’ original absurdist works are playful\, witty and multi-layered. Renowned wordsmith Peter Rose has a fine sense of what lies beneath the surface of relationships and social interaction. His clever duologues highlight our foibles and delusions with sensitivity and humour.” Helen Morse \n“The more you see The Highly Strung Players perform\, the more you learn. The company’s repertoire comprises not separate plays but is part of an ever-expanding continuum. Peter Rose’s words are naturally poetic\, proving the power of poetry in motion and emotion. As with fine chamber music\, Peter’s words are designed to make you listen\, to pay attention\, to focus – to narrow down on all the quirks and frailties and intensities of the human condition.  \nThese are true conversation pieces. At first\, the exchanges may seem like small talk – superficial\, brittle\, even bitchy – but they coalesce gradually\, inexorably\, to reveal a world of past experiences and associations that have occurred somewhere offstage\, remaining unforgotten and often unforgiven. There are epiphanies\, too\, an ominous undercurrent that is indicative of profound\, life-changing force. Surprises\, even shocks\, can erupt swiftly.” Michael Shmith[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Program” tab_id=”1787121213739-0564f716-1d67″][vc_column_text]The Marriage Game – Tuesday\, December 1\, 2026 \nPeter Rose and Ellie Nielsen present three short plays drawn from The Ones\, Rose’s celebrated series of satires about publishing and married life. We follow our two publishers over the course of twenty years: from the start of their relationship to the brittle present\, when Robert seeks to revisit the ‘pact of infertility’. \nThe program will run for ninety minutes\, including one interval.  \n  \nThe Volcano – Wednesday\, December 2\, 2026 \nRose’s new play (2026) presents four characters not encountered in previous works\, but they have deep social connections with those featured in The Ones and other plays. In the first act we meet Dallas and Edward\, tourists in Sicily who contemplate a momentous visit to a volcano. In Act 2\, five years later\, their twin children (Timmy and Melody) recall the events of that day and reminisce about a lost sibling\, Teddy. In the final act\, Timmy – trying to make sense of why he has been disinherited – is enlightened by an unexpected guest. \nThe Volcano (performed by Georgina Banks\, Ellie Nielsen and Peter Rose) will run for ninety minutes\, including one interval.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Biographies” tab_id=”1452941644640-19a0de81-e87a0201-342dcb0a-2ec9a177-581a2513-a5c51f1f-8993a3c4-5ca5cb85-3d54189f-4d6f8ba6-b9f1c796-b36f”][vc_column_text]Georgina Banks – a writer\, facilitator\, and performer – was a professional actor in her twenties\, studying acting in New York and then working in theatre and television for over a decade. In 2023 she published her first book\, Back to Bangka\, which was recently featured on ABC TV: Compass\, The Myth of the Nurses on the Beach. She first performed with the Highly Strung Players in 2025. \nEllie Nielsen holds a degree from VCA drama school and a Master of Creative Writing from RMIT University. As a Naarm (Melbourne)-based actor\, writer and dramaturg\, her work focuses on new and independent theatre. She is the author of the internationally published memoir Buying a Piece of Paris\, and has performed with the Highly Strung Players since 2023. \nPeter Rose is a poet\, novelist\, memoirist and critic. Attention\, Please! (2025) is his seventh book of poetry. Rose Boys\, a family memoir\, won the 2003 National Biography Award. He founded the Highly Strung Players in 1989 and revived it in 2017. Since then he has written many plays\, including the five-part The Ones. He was for many years Editor of Australian Book Review.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Ticket Prices and Concessions” tab_id=”1452941768731-94b426f3-57530201-342dcb0a-2ec9a177-581a2513-a5c51f1f-8993a3c4-5ca5cb85-3d54189f-4d6f8ba6-b9f1c796-b36f”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\nTicket Prices:\nFull: $40\nConcession: $25\nGroup 6+: $25\nDouble bill full price: $65\nDouble bill concession price: $45 \nConcessions:\nPensioners/Full-time students/MEAA members \nTicket sales are subject to a booking fee of $5.00 per ticket \nTicket fees are charged reluctantly. As an unfunded CBD located venue\, our expenses continue to rise. If fortyfivedownstairs is to survive\, we are obliged to increase our revenue without inflicting costs on already struggling artists. Without support\, we risk losing artists or having to close our doors. We do hope for your understanding![/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_tabs][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://fortyfivedownstairs.com/event/the-highly-strung-players-3/
LOCATION:fortyfivedownstairs theatre\, 45 Flinders Lane\, Melbourne 3000\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:theatre
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261203
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261204
DTSTAMP:20261001T032314Z
CREATED:20260915T005121Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T032314Z
UID:10004648-1796256000-1796342399@fortyfivedownstairs.com
SUMMARY:The Cooper Prize
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=”none” el_class=”ffds-theatre-company”]\n16th Street Foundation and Company 16 present\n[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”none” css=”.vc_custom_1789433193571{padding-bottom: 5px !important;}” el_class=”ffds-theatre-title”]\nThe Cooper Prize\n[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”none” css=”.vc_custom_1789433203885{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}” el_class=”ffds-theatre-dates”]Thursday 3 December 2026[/vc_column_text]book online [vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1517972522288{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” el_class=”ffds-theatre-details”][vc_column width=”2/3″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1517986542329{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517986153292{padding-bottom: 5px !important;}”]\nSHOW DETAILS:\n[/vc_column_text][vc_separator align=”align_left” el_width=”40″ color=”custom” el_id=”ffds-theatre-divider”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none” css=”.vc_custom_1789433277240{padding-top: 5px !important;}”]Thursday 3 December 2026\n\nduration: TBC\ntimes: 7:30pm\nticket price: $35 – $45\nbookings: 03 9662 9966 \nwarnings: TBC[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_tabs][vc_tta_section tab_id=”1451285630039-f4b33ad9-e29065c5-b63365ad-01c60201-342dcb0a-2ec9a177-581a2513-a5c51f1f-8993a3c4-5ca5cb85-3d54189f-4d6f8ba6-b9f1d8c6-afbf” title=”Description”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]The 16th Street Foundation and Company 16 invite you to the announcement of The Cooper Prize 2026 winner\, a prestigious international $20\,000 playwriting award championing bold\, original theatrical voices. \nDuring the evening\, excerpts from the top four finalists’ new theatre works will be presented through professionally directed readings\, brought to life by an ensemble of Melbourne’s finest actors\, culminating in the live announcement of this year’s winner. \n“The Cooper Prize stands as a beacon for work that might otherwise never be heard – and in doing so\, reaffirms the power of the arts to awaken\, challenge\, and heal.” – Philanthropist\, Peter Cooper \n“While many international awards exist\, few actively encourage writers to sit inside the ambiguity of life – to explore its contradictions rather than resolve them. What distinguishes the Cooper Prize is its commitment to one of the most vital functions of art: to provoke thought\, to expand emotional understanding\, and to bridge the space between intellect and feeling.” – Associate Artistic Director of 16th Street\, Harry Haynes[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Ticket Prices and Concessions” tab_id=”1452941768731-94b426f3-57530201-342dcb0a-2ec9a177-581a2513-a5c51f1f-8993a3c4-5ca5cb85-3d54189f-4d6f8ba6-b9f1d8c6-afbf”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\nTicket Prices:\n\nFull: $45\nConcession: $35 \nConcessions:\nPensioners/Full-time students/MEAA members \nTicket sales are subject to a booking fee of $5.00 per ticket \nTicket fees are charged reluctantly. As an unfunded CBD located venue\, our expenses continue to rise. If fortyfivedownstairs is to survive\, we are obliged to increase our revenue without inflicting costs on already struggling artists. Without support\, we risk losing artists or having to close our doors. We do hope for your understanding![/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_tabs][vc_empty_space]book online [/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://fortyfivedownstairs.com/event/the-cooper-prize/
LOCATION:fortyfivedownstairs theatre\, 45 Flinders Lane\, Melbourne 3000\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:theatre
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261216
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261220
DTSTAMP:20261015T053350Z
CREATED:20261015T012652Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261015T053350Z
UID:10006387-1797379200-1797724799@fortyfivedownstairs.com
SUMMARY:Jerk Beach
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=”none” el_class=”ffds-theatre-company”]\nPummel Squad presents\n[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”none” css=”.vc_custom_1792026125561{padding-bottom: 5px !important;}” el_class=”ffds-theatre-title”]\nJERK BEACH\n[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”none” css=”.vc_custom_1792026159362{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}” el_class=”ffds-theatre-dates”]16 – 19 December 2026[/vc_column_text]book online [vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1517972522288{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” el_class=”ffds-theatre-details”][vc_column width=”2/3″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1517986542329{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517986153292{padding-bottom: 5px !important;}”]\nSHOW DETAILS:\n[/vc_column_text][vc_separator align=”align_left” el_width=”40″ color=”custom” el_id=”ffds-theatre-divider”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none” css=”.vc_custom_1792026273243{padding-top: 5px !important;}”]Wednesday 16 – Saturday 19 December 2026\n\nduration: TBC no interval\ntimes: 7:30pm\nticket price: $30 – $45\nbookings: 03 9662 9966 \nwarnings: Jerk behaviour[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_tabs][vc_tta_section tab_id=”1451285630039-f4b33ad9-e29065c5-b63365ad-01c60201-342dcb0a-2ec9a177-581a2513-a5c51f1f-8993a3c4-5ca5cb85-3d54189f-4d6f8ba6-b9f17012-498b” title=”Description”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]Nothing good ever came out of Jerk Beach. \nPummel Squad have been allowed back to fortyfivedownstairs for their fourth annual pantomime. After sold out seasons of Marginalia and How The King Learned To Live Forever\, they’re taking us on a trip to a town that time forgot. \nJerk Beach. It’s your forever-summer holiday spot gone sour – washed out\, corrupt\, and overrun by the jerks. Beefed these no-good youths spend their days catching waves\, beating up nerds and wondering how they’ll ever get out of this wretched place. But when a mysterious little green visitor from beyond the stars crash lands in this godforsaken place\, spit hits the fan faster than grandma on gravy night.  \nIt’s Gidget meets Jaws meets ET meets Pummel Squad\, and it’s playing for four nights only. So grab your boogie boards and get down here or you’ll regret it.  \nWhop bop b-luma b-lop bam boom! \n“Pummel Squad have gained a reputation for their wild\, physical\, silly\, cartoonish\, hilarious\, idiosyncratic\, poor theatre over the last few years… I finally understand all the superlatives that have been thrown their way.” Keith Gow on How The King Learned To Live Forever[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Cast and Creatives” tab_id=”1452941644640-19a0de81-e87a0201-342dcb0a-2ec9a177-581a2513-a5c51f1f-8993a3c4-5ca5cb85-3d54189f-4d6f8ba6-b9f17012-498b”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]Created by Pummel Squad \nWriters: Ludomyr Kemp-Mykyta\, Harry McGee\, Cooper Donald McDonald \nDirector: Cooper Donald McDonald \nCast: AYA\, Miela Anich\, Keegan Bell\, Sam Buckley\, Alex Fimeri\, Molly Holohan\, Ludomyr Kemp-Mykyta\, Harry McGee\, Cooper Donald McDonald\, and more. \nLighting Designer: John Collopy \nStage Manager: Anneka van der Velde \nProducer & Dramaturg: Mark Pritchard \nAssistant Producer: Keegan Bell \nArtwork: Ludomyr Kemp-Mykyta and Cooper Donald McDonald[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Ticket Prices and Concessions” tab_id=”1452941768731-94b426f3-57530201-342dcb0a-2ec9a177-581a2513-a5c51f1f-8993a3c4-5ca5cb85-3d54189f-4d6f8ba6-b9f17012-498b”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\nTicket Prices:\nFull: $45\nConcession: $35\nGroup 6+: $35\nMob tickets (discount for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island mob): $30 \nConcessions:\nPensioners/Full-time students/MEAA members \nTicket sales are subject to a booking fee of $5.00 per ticket \nTicket fees are charged reluctantly. As an unfunded CBD located venue\, our expenses continue to rise. If fortyfivedownstairs is to survive\, we are obliged to increase our revenue without inflicting costs on already struggling artists. Without support\, we risk losing artists or having to close our doors. We do hope for your understanding![/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_tabs][vc_empty_space]book online [/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://fortyfivedownstairs.com/event/jerk-beach/
LOCATION:fortyfivedownstairs theatre\, 45 Flinders Lane\, Melbourne 3000\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:theatre
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