fortyfivedownstairs Announces Their Upcoming Events and Shows

A warm New Year's greeting to all from us at fortyfivedownstairs. It's been great to have a wee break but we're glad to be back and are feeling justifiably enthusiastic about the upcoming shows.

http://www.fortyfivedownstairs.com/

Theatre: To Keep Men in Awe
20 - 24 January
Midsumma Festival

Young theatre maker Mark Wilson presents To Keep Men in Awe, his irreverent and confronting picture of theatre's first star writer, outrageous wunderkind Christopher Marlowe.

A spy, an atheist, a homosexual, and one of the most notorious celebrities of his day, Marlowe was simultaneously hailed as a poetic genius and a cruel fiend.

Wilson, who has recently returned from the International Actors' Fellowship at Shakespeare's Globe in London, has no shortage of talent nor credentials himself. Don't miss this short season of a new work by one of Melbourne's emerging young talents.

Wednesday - Friday 8pm, Saturday 2pm & 8pm, Sunday 5pm
Tickets: $20/$15/$15 Group 10+

Giveaway: We have three double passes to giveaway to next Friday night's performance of Mark Wilson's To Keep Men in Awe. Simply tell me why you need to see this play and one double pass could be yours. Email answers to abby@fortyfivedownstairs.com by 5pm on Monday 18 January.

Gallery:
18 - 30 January
Midsumma takes off at fortyfivedownstairs!

Opening our exhibition calendar has become something of a tradition for the MidSumma Festival, and this third year sees three exciting exhibitions opening on Monday 18 January.

Vivien St James (1964 - 2009) was a celebrated Diva, with an astonishing costume collection that documents the evolution of a 20 year period of contemporary queer culture. This exhibition will show a selection of Vivien's huge costume collection, showing the work of top clothing and costume designers, artists and photographers.

Adelina Emmi The Sewing Circle has created portraits of powerful actresses of the silver screen who were known to have relationships and affairs with other women - Marlene Dietrich is only one among many.

Anthony L'Huillier, who has worked in advertising and film production for 17 years, shows his personal fascination with excess, strength and weakness in both the young, and the aged in his exhibition Photo Prodigious. His subjects may not be the famous in society, but his work reveals aspects of character that are hidden behind the face which we show to the world.

Theatre: Pink Shorts
26 - 30 January
Midsumma Festival

A selection of new queer-themed plays, performed by some of Melbourne's most experienced actors alongside Melbourne's newest talent.

The season gives emerging artists a chance to show never before seen theatre pieces to Melbourne audiences. Pushing the promise of Midsumma to promote and nurture Melbourne's best new queer talent.

Tuesday - Saturday 7.30pm
Tickets: $20/$15/$15 Group 8+
Book online here
Theatre: Dispatch
3 - 7 February

A little gem in every way, Dispatch is a miniature puppet show developed and performed by Penelope Bartlau, with performer Justine Warner. Penelope is a singer, actor, writer and puppeteer who has created a touching tale about Sorrel, a little girl who has died and is unable to realize it. She has arrived at an island in the middle of an ocean, guarded by Maman Brigitte, a human character who is the guardian of the dead.

We first saw Dispatch in a showing for R.E.Ross Trust award winners in 2008, and were impressed by the beauty and poignancy of the production, and by its exquisite execution.

Wednesday - Sunday 8pm
Tickets: $25/$20
Presented with assistance from City of Melbourne

Gallery: Gunns20
Lost and Saved: 21 Reasons to Protect Peaceful Protest
2 - 13 February

This fundraising exhibition of photographs of the extraordinary Tasmanian landscape coincides with the beginning of the next chapter of the trial against woodchipping giant Gunns.

This exhibition features photographs by: Senator Bob Brown; Olegas Truchanas; Peter Dombrovskis; Rob Blakers; and Wolfgang Glowacki.

You can read about Gunns20 on their website: gunns20.org, and find more information about the exhibition on our website.

Gallery: Giang Nguyen
My paintings are my voice
2 - 13 February

Hanoi based Vietnamese artist Giang Nguyen uses lacquer and oils to express feelings about identity, gender, sexuality - feelings repressed by tradition in a conservative society.

Giang Nguyen is a leading member of the cutting edge artist collective Hanoi Link. The exhibition is presented by Deborah Salter Fine Art.

More information on our website.

Theatre: Searchlight Festival

Presented by Tashmadada and fortyfivedownstairs, Searchlight Festival is a curated festival of explosively diverse and eclectic performance. This is the second year of the Festival and the programme is looking fantastic.