When the Rain Stops Falling

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by Andrew Bovell

Directed and designed by Chris Baldock

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Season: May 8-17, 2025

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Belconnen Arts Centre

BOOKINGS & FURTHER INFO HERE

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This extraordinary theatrical masterpiece is one of the most acclaimed and revered Australian plays of modern times. Winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award, the Victorian Green Room Award and the Sydney Theatre Award for Best New Australian Work.

Alice Springs. 2039. A fish falls from the sky – it still smells of the sea. It’s been raining for days and Gabriel York knows something is wrong. When the Rain Stops Falling unfolds like a puzzle to be solved. Told through the interconnected stories of two families over four generations: between a prediction in London 1959 and its outcome in Australia eighty years later. This intricate, multi-layered story explores betrayal, abandonment, destruction, forgiveness and love. With four generations of fathers and sons, their mothers, lovers and wives, the play is epic in its scope, yet at the same time extraordinarily intimate.

“…a gloriously written and gripping script…dramatically unpredictable and yet piercingly beautiful” – Artshub

“A spellbinding saga” – The Australian

“…bold and sensitive… exudes a sense of wonder and mystery…shrewd and sharp and genuinely moving” – The Times

“An extraordinary play” – Financial Times

Great Plays. Great Actors. Great Stories. Mockingbird Theatre is an award-winning (Canberra Critics Circle – The Laramie Project plays) Canberra-based theatre company bringing discerning audiences the best text-based 20th and 21st Century plays from around the world. Utilising the talents of Canberra’s experienced and emerging theatrical talents, Mockingbird Theatre’s mission is to move, thrill, entertain and to create theatrical magic that will touch the soul.

From the Director:

A very warm welcome to Mockingbird Theatre Company’s second official production as the theatre-company-in-residence at the beautiful Belconnen Arts Centre. After the huge success of our previous production, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, we have been truly humbled by the outpouring of support and belief in what Mockingbird is trying to do. We now have an exciting Youth class for 9 to 14 year olds run by the incredible Liz Caddie and a vibrant Screen Acting class run by the uber-talented Ruth Pieloor. Our first Mockingbird Too production, Snatches: Moments from 100 Years of Women’s Lives, directed by Céline Oudin (8 Women) is fully in rehearsal mode with auditions currently happening for Consent directed by Steph Evans. At the end of the month we are doing Play in a Day where actors, directors and writers have 24 hours to write, rehearsal and perform a play. It’s wild and brilliant and will be presented in the main theatre on May 31. And on top of that we have commenced rehearsals for the next mainstage production, the crazy absurdist comedy, Meteor Shower written by the one and only Steve Martin. Please join our mailing list on our website to be kept up-to-date with everything happening.

I have been wanting to direct this incredible play for 12 years now and I am thrilled that the stars have finally aligned. Now, with our own home, I can finally present my vision for this remarkable piece of work. It’s a piece that works on so many levels – an intriguing saga of an Australian family told over four generations; of how the actions of one person creates a butterfly effect that has ramifications for many; of fathers and sons; of mothers and sons. It is also a wonderfully crafted mystery as we jump backwards and forwards over the decades witnessing the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, adding such a thrilling element to the play. My eternal thanks to the cast, Rhiley, Zac and everyone at Belco Arts for their talents and support. Theatre is a collaboration and it takes an army to make something look effortless.

Cast:

Gabriel York – Chris Baldock

Elizabeth Law (Older) – Liz St Clair Long

Elizabeth Law (Younger) – Ruth Hudson

Joe Ryan – Bruce Hardie

Gabrielle York (Older) – Jess Beange

Gabrielle York (Younger) – Jayde Dowhy

Gabriel Law – Leonidas Katsinas

Henry Law – Zac Bridgman

Andrew Price – Dyllan Ormazabal

PRODUCTION TEAM:

Director – Chris Baldock

Stage Manager – Rhiley Winnett

Assistant Director – Zac Bridgman

Properties – Natalie Trafford and Chris Baldock

Set Design and Realisation – Chris Baldock

Projection Realisation – Rhiley Winnett

Sound Design – Chris Baldock and Rhiley Winnett

Lighting, Sound and Projection Operation – Rhiley Winnett

Costumes – The Cast and Chris Baldock

FOR MOCKINGBIRD THEATRICS:

Artistic Director – Chris Baldock

Technical Manager – Rhiley Winnett

Publicity, Graphics and Photography – Chris Baldock

Associate Directors – Zac Bridgman, Steph Evans, Céline Oudin

Associate Tutors – Ruth Pieloor, Liz Caddy, Callum Doherty, Marcel Cole, Ary White

Patron: Liz St Clair Long

THANKS TO:

Loki Clarke of Canberra Theatre Centre, Joachim , City News & Helen Musa, Stage Whispers, Canberra Critics Circle, Australian Arts Review

and Anni, Rosa, Shan, Jack and the staff of the Belconnen Arts Centre

Based on the play WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING

by Andrew Bovell, exclusively licenced by HLA Management Pty Ltd

PLEASE NOTE:

This production contains:

• Adult themes and language

*The approximate running time is 105 minutes with NO interval.

REVIEWS:

https://ccc-canberracriticscircle.blogspot.com/2025/05/when-rain-stops-falling.html

https://ccc-canberracriticscircle.blogspot.com/2025/05/when-rain-stops-falling_47.html

https://citynews.com.au/2025/rain-play-review/

https://ccc-canberracriticscircle.blogspot.com/2025/05/when-rain-stops-falling_9.html

PRODUCTION PHOTOS  AT BOTTOM OF PAGE – PLEASE SCROLL DOWN

Gabriel York – Chris Baldock

A multi-award winning actor, director and designer, Chris’ onstage roles has been as varied as Oscar Wilde in both The Judas Kiss and Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, Jack in Queers, various characters in The Laramie Project Plays, Ronald in Absurd Person Singular, Roo in Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Gene in Side Man (Victorian Drama League Award – Best Actor in a Drama), Col. Jessup in A Few Good Men, The Actor in The Woman in Black, both Roy and Henry in Cosi, George IV in The Madness of George III, The Bullfrog in Honk!, Tom in Farragut North, Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar, Ian in The Other Place, Michel in God of Carnage, Mathew in Scenes From A Separation, The Duke in Big River, Snoopy in both You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and Snoopy! The Musical, Arkady in A Month In The Country, Peck in How I Learned To Drive, Moonface Martin in Anything Goes, Lennie in Of Mice and Men and The Dentist (and others) in the NZ premiere of Little Shop of Horrors + many, many more. He worked at the The Street developing a play detailing the history of the AIDS epidemic in Canberra. His voice can be heard as part of the permanent In Their Own Words exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. He also role-plays for counselling student assessments at CIT. Chris is the owner and Artistic Director of Mockingbird Theatrics.

Elizabeth Law (Older) – Liz St Clair Long

Canberra Repertory Society:  The Actress (Lydia Martin);  Mr Bennet’s Bride (Mary); Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (Big Mama); The Grapes of Wrath (Ensemble); Waiting in the Wings (Deidre); A View From the Bridge (Greek Chorus); Coarse Acting (Stage Manager); Pride and Prejudice (Lady Catherine de Burgh): Hayfever (Judith Bliss); Don Parties On (Helen); Blithe Spirit (Mme Arcati); Tom & Viv (Viv);Tartuffe (Elmira); Sinners (Monica); Seasons Greetings (Belinda); Henceforward (Zoe/Nan); Just Between Ourselves (Pam); Blithe Spirit (Elvira); The Country Wife (Alithea); The Misanthrope (Celimene); Arms and the Man (Raina); Romanoff and Juliet (Marfa); Death of a Salesman (Jenny); Androcles and the Lion (Enemble)

Mockingbird Theatre Company: The Laramie Project and The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later(multiple characters), 8 Women (Grandma)

Alchemy Artistic: The Boys (Sandra)

AWARDS – Canberra Area Theatre Awards – The Actress, Waiting in the Wings; Cat On A Hot Tin Roof; The Boys. Peoples’ Choice (Short & Sweet Festival 2019) – Shopping for Underwear

Elizabeth Law (Younger) – Ruth Hudson

Ruth joined the Mockingbird Theatre Company’s acting classes in 2022, after she arrived in Canberra. Initially, seeing this as an opportunity to push herself beyond her comfort zone, meet interesting, likeminded people, and have bit of fun, Ruth soon found herself falling in love with the craft and the process of exploring scripts and character.

When Director, Chris Baldock announced he was  presenting When the Rain Stops Falling, Ruth could not resist the chance to bring this stunning story to life. Whilst Ruth has previously appeared in short films featured in several short film festivals, this production marks Ruth’s first foray onto the stage – and she couldn’t be more excited (and a wee bit nervous) to share it with you.

Joe Ryan – Bruce Hardie

Bruce moved to Canberra in 2024 from Melbourne where he was a self-described Theatre Slut. On arrival, he was lucky enough to be cast in Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Canberra REP) as Gordon/Dwight and even luckier to win a C.A.T. and Ovation for the role. He followed that up with August: Osage County (Free Rain) and got to meet a lot more of the Canberra Theatre community. So far they’ve proven to be great bunch. Some of his favourite roles in the past have been in: Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (Mordiallic Theatre), Blackbird (Warrandyte Theatre), Boeing Boeing (The Basin Theatre), Sylvia (Peridot Theatre) and he’s hoping to add a few more to this list with Mockingbird Theatrics in the future.

Gabrielle York (Older) – Jess Beange

Jess ‘grew up’ as an artist in the theatre and recently got the bug again. She just joined the Chorus of Greek Theatre Now’s inaugural production, Antigone; and is prepping to play Corky in Mockingbird’s upcoming production of Steve Martin’s Meteor Shower. She wrote, produced and directed upcoming Australian / French language feature film Animal. Through Taliesin Pictures, she’s developing a diverse slate of projects, many designed and pitched to be made locally. Jess is Workshop Leader with Bus Stop Films Canberra and founded ‘Set Ready Film’ to help create opportunities for local filmmakers and screenwriters.

Her performing arts practice is grounded in years of live, news and factual content creation as a broadcast journalist and presenter: searching for the truth and sharing it in the living moment with an audience.

Gabrielle York (Younger) – Jayde Dowhy

Jayde found her love for performing at a very young age, and with a background in dance of 12 years, spanning across Australia and Thailand, she is no stranger to the stage. She has since found her biggest passion for performing in acting and has remained enamoured with it ever since. In college musicals, she played the greedy tyrant and corrupt Sheriff in Rockin Robin and the ever so fabulous drama queen Sharpay in High School Musical. After graduating, Jayde made Mockingbird Studios her acting home in 2021. Performing in the beautiful 1-person play Every Brilliant Thing and numerous monologues in showcases, Jayde continues to
engross herself in the rewarding challenge of finding the truth and realism in every piece she portrays.

She is soon to perform as Linda in Snatches: Moments from 100 Years of Women’s Lives, and most recently portrayed the devious, confident and cunning Daphne Flynn in the Lights Canberra Action award winning short film They’re Ready For You. Jayde is beyond thrilled to be playing the younger Gabrielle York in When the Rain Stops Falling and hopes to portray the captivating balance between Gabrielle’s childlike wonder and the weight of her burdening past.

Gabriel Law – Leonidas Katsinas

Leonidas is a Canberra-based actor whose passion for the craft began at a young age and continues to evolve through diverse and challenging roles.
His journey started in Greece, where he played the ambitious and hopeful Pisthetaerus in Aristophanes’ The Birds. Since then, he has brought to life
satirical characters such as Detective Manny Munoz in Larry Gelbart’s City of Angels and explored the world of Shakespeare, performing as Macduff
in Macbeth, the hopelessly romantic Antonio in Twelfth Night, and Prospero in The Tempest with the ANU Shakespeare Society. Most recently, Leon performed in The Logues with Canberra REP and embraced the challenge of the seven-hour epic The Inheritance.

He is both excited and slightly terrified to be playing Gabriel Law in When the Rain Stops Falling, a character he hopes to portray with sensitivity,
wonder, and just the right amount of melancholy.

Henry Law – Zac Bridgman

As an avid fan of soup, umbrellas, and the weather, Zac has been busy spraying his hair and combing his moustache in order to be but a small part in this magnificent play. A long-time student of Mockingbird, Zac has written, directed, and acted in three award-winning Canberra-based short films over the past 2 years, all filmed for Lights! Canberra! Action! (the most recent of which, They’re Ready For You, was filmed in this very theatre). He also directed Fully Committed under the Mockingbird banner last year, but the director has now become the directed and he is delighted to perform for you in When the Rain Stops Falling.

Andrew Price – Dyllan Ormazabal

Dyllan is an actor who is new to the theatrical stage. He has gained knowledge from various institutes, receiving a Certificate 3 in Stage and Screen at Perform Australia, as well as receiving a Certificate of Attainment for screen acting while studying at Nida. He has appeared in a number of short films and is ready to take his talents to stage and can think of no better play to begin the journey than When the Rain Stops Falling.

Chris Baldock – Director/Designer

Please find more information about Chris HERE.

Rhiley Winnett – Technical Director & Stage Manager

Rhiley Winnett is an emerging professional Stage Manager across the Canberra region. They have been working as a professional Stage Manager since 2020 but have been an avid theatre maker and enthusiast since they were young. 

They have worked on a myriad of productions including but not limited to: Wolf Lullaby (2021) – Echo Theatre, Dags (2022) – Canberra Youth Theatre, How to Vote! (2022) – Canberra Youth Theatre, You Can’t Tell Anyone (2023) – Canberra Youth Theatre, People You May Know (2023) – Lucid Theatre, I Have No Enemies (2024) – Bare Witness Theatre, The Girl Who Glows (2024) – The Street Theatre, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2025) – Mockingbird Theatre

Rhiley has thoroughly enjoyed working on When the Rain Stops Falling as it has continued to stretch and grow their creative abilities and has brought new skills into their repertoire they hadn’t expected to encounter. They are thrilled at the continued support and belief of the whole Mockingbird Team and are proud of the work they are able to continue to help make.

 

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