WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING 12 - 31 JULY AND IRON LUNG THEATRE - Whitehorse Centre
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WHEN THE RAIN
STOPS FALLING
by andrew bovell | PRESENTED BY THEATRE WORKS
AND IRON LUNG THEATRE
12 - 31 JULY
THEATRE WORKS, 14 ACLAND STREET, ST KILDA
FISH SOUP, MOURNING,
AND HOPE AT THE END
OF THE WORLD
Andrew Bovell’s When the Rain Stops Falling is a sprawling epic of a play – a sleek, Understanding the play’s melancholy also allows us to see a ray of hope. Bovell
stark, emotionally raw meditation on climate change and extinction disguised as once wrote:
a family saga stretching from 1959 in London to 2039 in Alice Springs, Australia.
A workshop called ‘The Extinction Project’ and Bovell’s attendance at an exhibit “In the final scene of the play there is hope that the damage of the past can
on Melancholia in Paris gave him the idea to put this play together. Bovell found be undone or at least understood and there is a suggestion that we have the
the motif of Saturn that repeats in the play, including the metaphor of ‘eating capacity with this understanding to move on in a different way … But what I also
the future’, in the same exhibit. Bovell’s layering of scene upon scene creates a saw was that melancholy is not the point at which we become inactive, but the
presence of deep time onstage. The family becomes a collective protagonist and very opposite. It actually describes the deep thinking we need to do that precedes
the impact of slow violence on the family and on the climate is made physically change. And I suddenly thought: ‘OK, we are feeling very melancholy about the
present for the audience. world we actually live in, but what we are doing is thinking and imagining what
the world must become if we are to survive’. That brought a shift in the way I was
Today, during the COVID era, populations the world over know what it is like to looking at this work because it was no longer about warning and doom. This was
become united in one thing – a collective effort to save each other. In early 2020, going to be a play about the necessity to change and the ability to change for
Australia experienced one of its worst bushfire seasons in history. Thousands of fish the better. And that led me to look at the Enlightenment, another period of human
died in NSW as a result of ash washing into rivers and oceans. Temperatures soared transformation, if you like, a huge and significant shift in the way human beings
up and down – jumping from 16 degrees to 42 degrees with alarming frequency. thought about themselves.”
Scientists say humans are causing the sixth mass extinct and its happening 1000
times faster than previous ages. When the Rain Stops Falling is a prophetic play – not in its insights about the future
but, instead, into the present. As Bovell says: “It asks us: are we at the will of forces
From the real-time lessons of global action during COVID, we know how to act out of our control or are we in control of our destiny and can make the changes
collectively for the greater good. Can we apply this thinking to our largest problem necessary to live according to the responsibility we have as human beings? Theatre
yet – climate change? In the play the violent weather patterns, the breakdown can tell us hopeful stories … that’s what I am trying to communicate. Past mistakes
of the environment and global species extinction serve as metaphors for the can be addressed in the future and that must give us hope and a sense of purpose
emotional turmoil the characters are experiencing in their lives. The near-constant for why we are here”.
rain and impending storm builds toward a type of end-of-world apocalypse – a
seismic shift in how people live their day-to-day.
FAMILY TREE
ANDREW BRIONY
BOVELL DUNN
WRITER DIRECTOR
Andrew is an internationally recognised writer for the stage and screen. His works for the During her twenty-year career Briony Dunn has worked as director, tutor, script assessor
stage include Things I Know to be True, a co-production between State Theatre Company and filmmaker with a slew of esteemed companies including NIDA, ATYP, Griffin Theatre
of South Australia and Frantic Assembly in the UK, and an adaptation of Kate Grenville’s Company, Company B Belvoir, Belvoir Downstairs, Big hArt, Ashfield Youth Theatre, PACT
novel The Secret River directed by Neil Armfield for the Sydney Theatre Company/Sydney Youth Theatre, Carriageworks, Playworks and Playwriting Australia. Briony’s work as a
Festival 2013 and Edinburgh Festival and National Theatre London 2019. And When the filmmaker includes directing the short documentaries, He Used to Call Me Boz (Super 8/
Rain Stops Falling for Festival of the Arts 2008 and Sydney Theatre Company/Melbourne Digital) and From Here, shot in the West Bank. Briony is a graduate of the NIDA directing
Theatre Company in 2009. The play was also produced in London at the Almeida Theatre course and also has a Master of Arts in Theatre from UNSW. In 2019 Briony directed Iron
in 2009 and in New York at The Lincoln Centre in 2010, where it won five Lucille Lortell Lung’s inaugural show ‘night, Mother by Marsha Norman. Briony is currently part of the
Awards and was named best new play of the year by Time Magazine. Other plays include Melbourne Theatre Company’s Women in Theatre Program in the programming stream.
Anthem, Holy Day, Who’s Afraid of the Working Class, Speaking in Tongues, Scenes from a Briony recently worked on The Greer Effect by Vanessa O’Neill – a creative development
Separation, Ship of Fools and After Dinner. at Theatre Works starring Caroline Lee and Jennifer Vuletic and is Literary Manager at
Theatre Works.
Andrew’s film credits include Stoner an adaptation of John Williams novel for Blumhouse/
F4, In the Shadow of Iris, a French language adaptation of his screenplay Chaos directed
by Jalil Lespert (starring Romain Duris, Charlotte Le Bon, Jalil Lespert, Camille Cottin); A
Most Wanted Man an adaptation of John Le Carre’s novel for director Anton Corbijn
(starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Willem Defoe and Robyn Wright),
which premiered at Sundance Film Festival; Edge of Darkness starring Mel Gibson; Lantana,
which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival and had a gala screening at the Toronto
Film Festival and was awarded best screenplay at the Australian Film Institute Awards,
Australian Critics Circle Award and Australian Writers Guild Award; Head On, winner of
Best Screenplay at the Australian Writers Guild Awards, The Fisherman’s Wake and the
i have not seen a FISH LIKE THIS
original screenplay for Strictly Ballroom. Andrew has films in development with Tessa Ross
(UK), Blumhouse (US) and miniseries in development with Matchbox Pictures. FOR MANY YEARS. NOT SINCE I WAS A
BOY. THEY ARE AFTER ALL MEANT TO
BE EXTINCT
GABRIEL YORK
FRANCIS ESTHER
GREENSLADE VAN DOORNUM
‘GABRIEL YORK/HENRY LAW’ ‘ELIZABETH LAW YOUNGER’
Francis Greenslade is a well-known actor and performer. He is currently appearing in Shaun Micallef’s Esther is a NIDA graduate and has worked in film, TV and theatre for the past 20 years. She has appeared
Mad as Hell on the ABC. Other TV credits include The Leftovers, Winners and Losers, The Micallef in TV shows such as Water Rats, All Saints, Neighbours and Jack Irish. She completed four short films –
Program, Welcher & Welcher, Micallef Tonight, Pig’s Breakfast, SeaChange, Blue Heelers, Water Rats, Bird, To the Sea, Louisa and Overshadowed. In 2001 she worked with the Bell Shakespeare Company
The Games and City Homicide. Francis has appeared in numerous productions for the Melbourne appearing in main stage productions of Anthony and Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, both directed
Theatre Company, including The Odd Couple, Shakespeare in Love, The Madwoman of Chaillot, by John Bell. In 2005 Esther appeared in the award-winning play Whale Music with the Darlinghurst
Urinetown, Things We Do for Love and Man the Balloon. For the Malthouse Theatre he has appeared in Theatre Company. While at NIDA she performed in several shows including Whale Music, Top Girls,
Babes in the Wood, Optimism, The Odyssey and Tartuffe. He has also performed in many productions Boy’s Life, Touched, Chaste Maid in Cheapside and The Libertine, which was directed by Richard
for Playbox Theatre, State Theatre Company of South Australia and the Magpie Theatre Company. He Cottrell. Esther also works extensively as a voice over artist. She recently worked with voice and acting
recently starred in 33 Variations alongside Ellen Burstyn. His book How I Learned to Act (on the way to teacher Patsy Rodenburg and the legendary Steppenwolf Theatre Company. In 2019 Esther played
not going to drama school) was published by Currency Press in 2019 and his adaptation of Dario Fo’s Jessie Cates in Iron Lung’s first show ‘night, Mother by Marsha Norman. Esther also holds a BA in Fine
Accidental Death of an Anarchist was produced by Sydney Theatre Company in 2018. Arts (Photography) and an Associate Degree in Writing and Editing from RMIT.
MARGARET
DARCY KENT
‘GABRIEL LAW/ANDREW PRICE’
MILLS
‘ELIZABETH LAW OLDER’
Darcy is a graduate of The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in the UK, where he completed Margaret has performed with Melbourne Theatre Company (Top Girls, Boston Marriage and The
his Masters in Classical Acting. His most recent work includes the national tour of Lamb (Red Stitch/ Dream Life of Butterflies); The Malthouse (The Odyssey, All Souls); La Mama (The Girl I Love, Closing
Critical Stages), as well as performing at the Pop-Up Globe in productions of Romeo and Juliet and Time); Belvoir (Call of the Wild and Ship of Fools); Sydney Theatre Company (The History of Water);
Much Ado About Nothing. He is also a Red Stitch ensemble member and has appeared in both Black Sequin Productions, Whistling in the Theatre and Ranters Theatre with such writers and directors
Desert 6.29pm and The Antipodes. His other theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado as Jenny Kemp, Gary Abrahams, Rita Kalnejais, Melissa Reeves, Alana Valentine, Roger Hodgman, Kim
about Nothing (which both toured China with the Australian International Opera Company), Seminar Durban, Andrew Bovell, Daniel Keene, Tom Healey, Robert Draffin, Tom Gutteridge, Raimondo and
(Artefact Theatre, Chapel Off Chapel) and The Servant of Two Masters (La Mama, Make a Scene). Film Adriano Cortese, Roz Horin, Simon Stone and Noelle Janaczewska. Other credits include: The Doll’s
and TV credits include New Gold Mountain, Offspring, Neighbours, feature film The Surrogate as well House, A Cheery Soul (Green Room Award – Best Supporting Female Performer), History of Water,
as a host of short films. Angels in America, Still Angela, The Black Sequin Dress, Call of the Wild, Speaking in Tongues (Green
Room Award nomination - Best Female Performer) and Jandamarra. TV credits include Blue Heelers
and A Country Practice. Film credits include I Met a Girl and Corroboree.
HEATHER
ALEX PINDER
‘JOE RYAN’
BOLTON
‘GABRIELLE YORK OLDER’
Alex Pinder has forty years’ experience working in the performing arts. As an actor he has worked for Heather’s theatre work includes roles in Australian plays such as Andrew Bovell’s Speaking in Tongues,
The Ensemble Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, The Malthouse and Joanna Murray-Smith’s The Gift, Abe Pogos’s Strangers in the Night and Jim Sharman’s Shadow
Theatre Sans Frontiere in the UK. Recent credits include playing Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet and Splendour, as well as classics such as The Crucible with Melbourne Theatre Company, Lower
for Australian Shakespeare Company and Abu Ahmed in Tales of a City by the Sea for La Mama. Depths with Ariette Taylor and Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Richard III with Bell Shakespeare. She
TV credits include a regular role in the acclaimed children’s series Ocean Girl, as well roles in City has been involved in many creative developments including The Dictionary of Imaginary Places with
Homicide, Blue Healers, Stingers, Terra Nova and Bloom. Recent film credits include Hotel Mumbai and Anna Tregloan, Waking Up Dead with Trudy Hellier, The Black Inside season at Playbox. Film credits
Paper Champions. As an acting teacher he has taught at The Adelaide College of The Arts, LASALLE include The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark and Mr Wrong. From 1996, Heather has worked
Singapore, National Institute of Circus Arts in Melbourne and the Dapana Performing Arts Academy with contemporary theatre company, Ranters Theatre, performing in works such as St Kilda Tales,
Ahmedabad India. Alex is a graduate of L’École Jacques Lecoq in Paris (1985) and Ensemble Studios Inconsolable, Affection and Come Away With Me to the End of the World and touring Australia, UK,
Sydney (1979). Europe, USA and South Korea. In 2011 Heather directed Raimondo Cortese’s The Dreamlife of Butterflies
for Melbourne Theatre Company.
it will remain silent. it will kill him and it
LUCY
will kill me but i will remain silent. it will
be as if you never existed.
CHAIX
elizabeth law
‘GABRIELLE YORK YOUNGER’
Lucie is a Melbourne-based actor and graduate of Brave Studios. Her stage credits include The Children’s
Hour by Lillian Hellman, Bachelorette by Leslye Headland for Twelve Angry Independent Theatre and
Clochemerle by Gabriel Chevallier for Panache Theatre. Lucie’s Feature Film credits include SLANT
directed by James Vinson for Exile Entertainment/Bim Bim Films. Lucie has starred in many TVCs and
short films including Breathing Underwater and Medium for VCA and Silence by Illuminary Media.
DARRIN
GREG CLARKE
VERHAGEN SET DESIGNER
SOUND DESIGNER
Darrin Verhagen is an award-winning sound designer and composer, working across a range of Greg has recently returned to designing sets and costumes for performance after a six year period
media. In theatre he has worked with the Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse, Daniel Schlusser teaching design in the Bachelor of Production at the Victorian College of the Arts (2011-2016) As part
Ensemble, Chamber Made Opera, Bell Shakespeare, Sydney Theatre Company and Griffin Theatre. of that role he was responsible for the development and implementation of a three-year curriculum in
And in dance has worked with Chunky Move, Australian Dance Theatre, Expressions Dance Theatre, design for the performing arts, delivering lectures, tutorials and studio-based classes as well as supervising
Lucy Guerin, Sue Healey and Antony Hamilton. As a founding member of the (((20hz))) collective, his senior students in design roles on VCA production for the Theatre, Dance and Music Theatre schools.
installations have fused sound with light, felt vibration and motion simulators and have been exhibited Greg was instrumental in developing a cross discipline (theatre, dance and production) first year subject,
at White Night, the National Gallery of Victoria, Experimenta, Globelight and RMIT Gallery. In 2017 his Concepts and Creativity, that promoted collaborative practice and dialogue across all art forms. Prior to
score for Sue Healey’s dance film On View: Hong Kong opened the West Kowloon Cultural District and taking up the position at VCA Greg delivered the Visual Theatre program for the Queensland University of
he represented Australia in performances for the opening of the Nha Trang Sea Festival in Vietnam. Technology’s BFA (Technical Production) from 2003 until 2010 whilst maintaining a career as a freelance
He has won three Green Room Awards and his Boys in the Trees score was finalist for best soundtrack set and costume designer for performance.
in both AACTA and the Critics Film Circle awards. He teaches soundtrack in the RMIT School of Design Greg has been involved in a large number of premier productions and have developed strong
and researches the psychophysiology of aesthetic experience and is currently researching 4D music dramaturgical skills resulting in long term, creative relationships with directors, writers and theatre
interventions for dementia. companies.
CLARE
BETTY AUHL
COSTUME DESIGNER
SPRINGETT
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Betty is a designer and theatre maker living in Melbourne. She works across costume and set design Clare is a Melbourne based Lighting Designer and Theatre Maker who has been working in the arts
for theatre, film and dance. Vital to all projects for Betty is a strong undercurrent of dramaturgically for the last 20 years. She is a lover of the arts, a champion of women and an advocate for positive
charged design. Betty’s recent design work includes Definitely Not the Worst Thing in the World, health and well-being in the arts. From 2013 to October 2020 Clare was the Resident Lighting Designer
High School Musical, REBEL: A New Musical, Ugleigh, Polygraph and Alexis. She studied a Masters in at Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre. She was one of the 2018-2019 Melbourne Theatre Company Women in
Design for Live Performance at the VCA, where she designed for Adena Jacobs’ The Crucible and Theatre participants and is now a full-time freelance designer and studying a Graduate Certificate of
contemporary dance works Stingray Story and Blue Illusion. Betty has assisted designers on Melbourne Social Impact. Clare’s credits include: Burn This directed by Iain Sinclair for 16th Street Studio, Everyone
Theatre Company’s The House of Bernarda Alba, Little Ones Theatre’s Dangerous Liaisons and Dracula Is Famous directed by Katrina Cornwall/Riot Stage, Mara KORPER directed by Jayde Kirchert/Citizen
and Malthouse/Sydney Theatre Company’s Love and Information. Theatre, Feather In the Web directed by Declan Greene, Dance Nation directed by Maude Davey,
The Antipodes directed by Ella Caldwell, The Way Out directed by Penny Harpham, Wet House
directed by Brett Cousins, Jumpers for Goalposts directed by Tom Healey and EURYDICE directed by
Luke Kerridge, which was nominated for a Green Room Award for Lighting Design. In 2019 Clare was
Associate Lighting Designer for Shakespeare in Love directed by Simon Phillips at Melbourne Theatre
Company.
NATASHA JULIA
MARICH LANDBERG
STAGE MANAGER PRODUCTION MANAGER
Natasha has freelanced extensively as a stage manager since graduating from NIDA in the early Julia is a WAAPA graduate with Bachelor of Performing Arts, majoring in Performance making. Originally
1990s. She has toured nationally and internationally with main-stage companies, small-to-medium from Sweden, she also holds an Acting Diploma from Calle Flygare in Stockholm. She has experience
companies and independent artists and has enjoyed working on numerous international arts festivals in both Production and Stage Management with productions such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
in a range of disciplines: from contemporary dance to puppetry, drama, comedy, opera and music directed by Francis Greenslade, Medea + Herakles, directed by Robert Johnson, Der Hamletmachine
theatre. directed by Iron Lung’s Briony Dunn, Musical Play Family Festival (Melbourne Recital Centre), High School
After taking a European sabbatical in 2019 and working at Prague Fringe, Natasha returned to Musical (James Terry Collective) and with an upcoming original play at La Mama later this year.
Melbourne and was re-united with Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre to tour American Song for Critical Stages
in early 2020. This is Julia’s second show as Production Manager with Iron Lung Theatre, the first being the company’s
In 2021 she toured Lamb for Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre and then went on to join AKA Australia’s 2021 inaugural production ’night, Mother in 2019. In addition, Julia is an actor and theatre maker and has
Comedy Festival production of Coral Browne: This F**king Lady with Amanda Muggleton performed original works as His Majesty’s Theatre, The Blue Room Theatre, Subiaco Arts Centre, Spare
When the Rain Stops Falling marks her third Andrew Bovell play as a stage manager, having toured Parts Puppet Theatre and Perth Fringe Festival. She is currently working on a new translation of The Stronger
the original production of Speaking in Tongues for Griffin Theatre Company in 1997 and Ship of Fools as part of Iron Lung Theatre’s company is residence at Theatre Works. Julia is currently helping facilitating
in 1998. Theatre Works’ She Writes Program, works in the ticketing department at Melbourne Theatre Company
and has administrated acting programs at 16th Street Actors Studio and Acting Performance Studio.
STÉPHANIE
CORY DERRICK
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR
GHAJAR
ASSOCIATE ARTIST
Cory Derrick is a dancer and actor based in Melbourne, Australia. Brought up in a performing arts Stéphanie Ghajar is a Lebanese-born Australian theatre and filmmaker, mainly working as a director
family, Cory started his creative journey from an early age. He attended regular dancing and acting and dramaturge. Her work delves into the human condition to explore the individual in deeply personal
classes with Kelly Akers, Rob Sturrock, Sue Ellen Shook, Barbara Lynch, Sharon Lawrence, Phillip Haddad, situations where the familiar motions of the everyday darken and veer towards the tragic. Having a
Chunky Move and Peter Kalos. He has and appeared in movies and TV shows including Dead Europe, mixed background and working in both film and theatre together has shown evident streaks of each
Matching Jack, Winners and Losers, Neighbours, Underbelly as well as commercials for Nintendo, medium seeping into the other, in a wide scope of cultural narratives.
Kmart, Commonwealth Games and Forty Winks throughout his youth.
After finishing high school, Cory moved to Perth to pursue dance at WAAPA and graduated in 2017 Stéphanie is currently developing her own work called Zaffé (/‘zafe/) with an ensemble of Middle
with a BA in Contemporary Dance. Eastern and Australian creatives. She is currently devising and performing in an online performance
with an NYC-based multimedia theatre company, Anonymous Ensemble. For film, she is the dramaturg
He has since then danced for Opera Australia at the State Theatre, danced and acted in Everything Mert Berdilek’s feature films Agri and The Horse Thief.
Gone, done corporate acting work for Building Leadership Simulation Centre as well as developed
and performed the dance pieces Shall We Get Comfy at Perth Fringe Festival and Cell at Wakakkirri.
With a passion for further pursuit in choreography, Cory is excited to step into the role as Movement
Director for When the Rain Stops Falling.
FURTHER CREDITS THANK YOU
Our heartfelt thanks to: Andrew Bovell, Hannah Strout, Auspicious
HARRIE HOGAN - Lighting Design Associate Arts, Creative Partnerships Australia, Play King, RISE Festival, Dianne
Toulson, Adam Gardner, Lachlan Woods, David Paterson, Eleanor
JUSTIN GARDAM - Projection Designer Howlett, Jenny Kent, City of Port Phillip, Hahnie Goldfinch, Steven
Mitchell Wright, Natalie Stewart at HLA Management, Clary Riven,
HAHNIE GOLDFINCH - Props Maker and Set Builder Chris Bennett, Melbourne Theatre Company, Bronwyn Pringle, Justin
Gardam, Harrie Hogan, Sophie Woodward, Tom Budhall, Jemma Law
TOM BUDHALL - Assistant Stage Manager
Thank you to all our Pozible supporters – we couldn’t have done
this without you Stephen Hall, Kathryn House, Carmel Lane, Richard
JEMMA LAW - Assistant Stage Manager Margetson, Michael Polkinghorne, Penelope Chai, Vanessa O’Neill,
Anne Bravos, Paul Pandelis, David Owens, Liz Dunn, Fiona Inchley,
KIMBERLEY HEBERLEY - Associate Artist Kimberly Summer, Natalie Caughey, Krystalla Pearce, Louise Thomson,
Diana Greenslade, Nicholas Denton, Liz Dunn, Linda Herd, Hugh
ELEANOR HOWLETT (SASSY RED PR) - Publicity Owens, Lauren Lloyd Williams, Donna McRae and Colette Mann
Producers: Paul Pandelis, Kathryn House, Esther van Doornum, Hugh
Owens, Linda Herd and Liz Dunn
Nothing love. You’re wandering
a bit that’s all. you’re not sure
if it’s today or tomorrow or
yesterday. and who can blame
you for that. they’re all pretty
much the same.”
JOE RYAN
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