Artistic director: Mary Lou Jelbart
Mary Lou had a long career as an arts reviewer and reporter with ABC Radio National and Radio 774. She managed to combine this with several years in local government, as a councillor with the City of St. Kilda, where she founded the St. Kilda Festival (of which she is no longer so fond) and the St. Kilda Film Festival (of which she is very proud). Apart from being involved in protests against the Grand Prix in Albert Park, she has managed to keep out of trouble most of the time.
Venue Manager and Administrator: Philippa Jelbart
Philippa’s background of 15 years in hospitality has prepared her for the multitude of different events that take place at the venue every year, although there is always something to surprise her! Her managerial experience means that she is equally happy balancing the books, selling tickets and artworks, and doing the housekeeping to boot. Apart from encouraging Mary Lou to protest in rallies against the Grand Prix, she tries to keep her out of trouble most of the time.
Originally from Northland, New Zealand, Abby worked in the arts for the past twelve years. Abby has focused on the not-for-profit visual arts, originally in Auckland before moving to Melbourne in 2009. She is an exhibiting visual artist and mother to a small boy called Senan.
Gallery and Communications Coordinator: Jade Stroud-Watts
From the Northern Rivers area of NSW; Jade completed her Communications Degree at Griffith University in 2011. From here she was Gallery Assistant at 19 KAREN Contemporary Artspace, lived in Norway and has recently moved to Melbourne to pursue her career and love of classical and contemporary dance.
Technical coordinator: Andy Turner
Andy hails from the UK, where he trained in Technical Theatre & Lighting Design at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He has a wide range of live arts technical experience, having worked with many of the UK’s leading arts organisations. Andy continues to enjoy a career in theatre, currently facilitating and supporting the busy schedule of produced work here at fortyfivedownstairs.
Front of house manager: Andrew Hansen
A man of the theatre, Andrew was a founding member of the groundbreaking, mainly adult, puppet company Handspan. Handspan theatre toured extensively in Europe, the U.S. South America, Japan and Indonesia, with ground breaking productions such as Four Little Girls (Ariette Taylor) Secrets (Nigel Triffitt) Cho Cho San (Daniel Keene). Andrew is well known to fortyfivedownstairs’ patrons for his enthusiastic and effusive audience welcomes.