ANNIVERSARY SHOWCASE and More Set for fourtyfivedownstairs this Feb

fourtyfivedownstairs has announced its programme for February. New stagings of Henry IV and Romeo and Juliet are contrasted with new writing, art events and an anniversary musical showcase.

Theatre: Two by Two
Little Ones Theatre
Thursday 9 - Sunday 19 February

We have a change of pace this week, with a new play by Dan Giovannoni, a newcomer to fortyfivedownstairs. Development of Two by Two was assisted by the Malcolm Robertson Foundation last year. We are delighted to be introducing his work to a wider audience.

Two by Two raises some powerful moral dilemmas - echoing startling scenes from real life, rising flood waters maroon three adults - and only two can be rescued. Add an unrelated baby to the mix and the questions this new work raises become even more charged.

Large Gallery: Jean Lyons
Earth's Shadow
7 - 18 February

Jean Lyons' works reward close attention to the finest details of leaves, shells and feathers she's collected, which are only a small part of the influences that have resulted in these intriguing monochromatic paintings.

She's inspired by ancient Chinese and Japanese monochrome ink paintings, by the Japanese aesthetic, Wabi Sabi, sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" as well as European art movements (Dada and Surrealism) and Australian contemporary artists.

Small Gallery: Morganna Magee
Motherhood
7 - 18 February

The mothers in Morganna McGee's silver gelatin photographic portraits come from a wide range of nationalities and economic backgrounds, but their responses and reaction to motherhood unite them.

Free Public Event: Morganna Magee and Jean Lyons
Artist Talks
Saturday 11 February - 2pm

This coming Saturday Morganna will be joined by one of her subjects. Together, artist and subject will share their insights from the Motherhood project.

'As a 28 year old woman who does not yet have children, I find myself harbouring judgements against choices women make. I am entering into the Motherhood project as a way to dispel my judgements and bias, whilst feeding my personal curiosity.'
- Morganna Magee

Following the Motherhood conversation, Jean Lyons will discuss her latest series of work - Earth's Shadow. Lyon's compositions are influenced by Golden Mean theory and Fibonacci number sequences, ratios and patterns traced back to ancient Egyptian and Grecian Art.

Special Event: diamonds downstairs
fortyfivedownstairs Anniversary Showcase
Saturday 25 February

A roll call of musical and dance performances.

Theatre: Henry lV, Part I
Nothing But Roaring
from 28 February

Shakespeare scholar Rob Conkie brings his all-male production of Henry IV, Part I to fortyfivedownstairs. Fresh from touring to the Southern Hemisphere's only recreated Elizabethan theatre, Tom Considine appears alongside Bob Pavlich, Chris White, George Lingard, and Rob Conkie.

Theatre: The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
The Zoey Louise Moonbeam Dawson Shakespeare Company
from 29 February

A dynamic reassessment of the teenage female psyche flips tradition on its head in The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Emerging director Zoey Dawson has enlisted the up and coming Carolyn Butley, Brigid Gallacher, Devon Lang Wilton, Laura Maitland, Naomi Rukavina, and Nikki Shiels (familiar to fortyfivedownstairs audiences from The Dollhouse).

This contrasting double-bill aims to reveal Shakespeare's "infinite variety" to a modern audience.

Large Gallery: Alexandra Sassé
Regarding the Face
21 February - 3 March

The face is a starting point for an investigation – although produced from life, Sassé's aim is not to reproduce reality but a response to what is transmitted between artist and sitter in the studio.

Small Gallery: Janice Gobey
Voyeur
21 February - 3 March

An exhibition of new paintings by Janice Gobey. Armed with paintbrush and oils, Janice works patiently to translate the sensuous qualities of fur and velvet drapery to canvas.

Bookings and more information for all fortyfivedownstairs shows: www.fortyfivedownstairs.com

Photo credit: Ponch Hawkes