Forty Five Downstairs Announces Upcoming Performances

Pay no attention to the weather, come in out of the cold to fortyfivedownstairs' array of good things - the firestarters of The Burlesque Hour: The Glory Box are sure to get your heart racing or find shelter in the 2012 Victorian Architecture Awards.

What's on

Theatre: The Burlesque Hour: The Glory Box
Finucane & Smith
Until 1 July

'...challenging, provocative, satirical and at times deeply discomforting...' – Clare Davie, Milk Bar Magazine

An excellent description of The Burlesque Hour: The Glory Box which never ceases to surprise and amaze us - and it's about to leave us for another year!

Special guest this week is the quite remarkable Miss Behave who flew in from Europe to join the company last week. The word "cheeky" doesn't immediately come to mind when talking about sword-swallowing… but somehow Miss Behave makes it look like fun (under no circumstances should anyone try this at home).

Most performances this week are sold out, but a few tickets remain before the final performance on Sunday 1 July, so don't leave it too late!

dates: Thursday 28 June to Sunday 1 July
times: Thurs 7pm, Fri/Sat 7pm and 9.30pm, Sun 5.30pm
tickets: Catwalk: SOLD OUT; General: Full $56, Conc $46; Peanut Gallery tickets for artists $25

Book online or phone (03) 9662 9966

SPECIAL EXTRA TICKET RELEASE - PHONE BOOKINGS ONLY! Finucane & Smith have just released a handful of tickets to every show this week. MUST CLOSE SUNDAY 1st JULY. Don't miss out on the show Melbourne's been raving about - call now!

Both Galleries: Victorian Architecture Awards 2012
Australian Institute of Architects
until 14 July

Melbourne has a continuing fascination with architecture and our current exhibition indulges that to the full.

The Victorian Architecture Awards 2012 exhibition celebrates 230+ entries, demonstrating yet again the wonderful range of new buildings that enhance our cultural landscape.

All the projects in the showcase are in the running for an Australian Institute of Architects Award, and a fascinating group they are.

Public floor talks will be scheduled after the winners are announced on 29 June. See our website for details.

Coming up

Theatre: The McNeil Project
Wattle We Do Next Productions
6 - 29 July

The prison plays of Jim McNeil created a sensation when they were performed in Sydney over 30 years ago. Malcolm Robertson had met Jim McNeil and discovered these remarkable works when he was teaching prisoners in Parramatta Gaol – at that time McNeil had never been to the theatre, or even seen a play. After his release, Jim McNeil became a celebrated, even notorious figure in the Sydney arts scene, but the brush with fame was ultimately destructive.

The two plays, The Chocolate Frog and The Old Familiar Juice, have been brought to Melbourne by a New Theatre Company, founded by young actors Luke McKenzie and Cain Thompson, directed by Malcolm Robertson (who else!). We can promise one of the most powerful theatre experiences of the year.

dates: Friday 6 to Sunday 29 July
previews: Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 July
times: Tues – Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm
tickets: Full $44, Conc $36, Preview $30

Book online or phone (03) 9662 9966

News: fortyfivedownstairs late fridays
We're extending our gallery hours!
from 6 July

We're changing our hours just a bit, to help those who find they can't make it to the gallery during our usual hours. We're extending exhibition time on Fridays when the gallery will remain open until 7pm.

To celebrate our first late friday on 6 July we're giving away a double pass to The McNeil Project. Simply front up and drop your business card in the jar for a chance to win. We'll be opening the bar as well, an opportunity for culture vultures to meet and mix! We look forward to seeing you there.

Both Galleries: Un:sighted
A group exhibition by Peter Summers, Troy Mendham, Emma Langridge, Tim Gresham, Louise Blyton and Lynette Smith
17 - 28 July

The six artists in Un:sighted all focus on the myriad pathways of abstraction. The exhibition title refers to the multiple terms used about abstract art "non-representative, reductive, non-objective, non-relational, unconstructed, non-compositional… "

While we tend to look for meaning in art ("what's it about?") abstract art has a great capacity to set the imagination alight, to create a mood, even transform an environment.

The exhibition will be opened on Thursday 19 July by Charles Nodrum, who has been a consistent supporter and exhibitor of abstract art from the 50s through to the present day.

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