Taking place between two worlds, between a prediction in 1959 and its outcome eighty years later, Andrew Bovell’s When the Rain Stops Falling follows the interconnected stories of two families over four generations, at New Theatre from 19 March.
Gabriel Law leaves London for the wild coast of South Australia, determined to unravel the mystery of his father Henry’s disappearance when he was only a boy.
He meets a vulnerable young woman named Gabrielle, and together they journey into the vastness of the Australian desert, sharing their stories and falling in love. Through their interweaving narratives we are led back to the future, to a time of unceasing rain and a day when fish fall from the sky.
Acclaimed Australian writer Andrew Bovell (Lantana, After Dinner) has created an epic investigation of humanity and family, of shared experience and inherited legacies, which asks the question: do we have the capacity to address the damage of the past in the future?
When the Rain Stops Falling won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award and the Green Room Award in 2008. New Theatre is thrilled to be reviving this marvellous play, with young director Rachel Chant (Associate Artist, Rock Surfers) making her New Theatre debut, leading some of Sydney’s top indie talents in both creative team and cast.
Andrew Bovell is an award-winning writer for theatre, film and television. His AWGIE award-winning play Speaking in Tongues has been seen throughout Australia as well as in Europe and the US and Bovell adapted it for the screen as Lantana.
Bovell’s plays include: After Dinner, Holy Day, Scenes from a Separation (written with Hannie Rayson), When the Rain Stops Falling and Who’s Afraid of the Working Class?, written with Patricia Cornelius, Melissa Reeves, Christos Tsiolkas and Irene Vela.
“Sad, exquisite, a beautiful play” – The West Australian
Director: Rachel Chant Featuring: Olivia Brown, Tom Conroy, Peter McAllum, Hailey McQueen, Renae Small, Helen Tonkin, David Woodland Assistant Director: Samantha Hickey Set Designer: Tom Bannerman Costume Designer: Martelle Hunt Lighting Designer: Benjamin Brockman Composer/Sound Designer: Nate Edmondson Assistant Sound Designer: Alistair Wallace Production Manager: Tara Ridley
When the Rain Stops Falling New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown Season: 19 March – 18 April 2015 Bookings: www.newtheatre.org.au
For more information, visit: www.newtheatre.org.au for details.
Image: When the Rain Stops Falling Cast – photo by Bob Seary