When the Rain Stops Falling

CAST

ANDREA PRICE | Izzi Richardson
ELIZABETH LAW (YOUNGER) | Marina Norman
ELIZABETH LAW (OLDER) | Audrey Lindsay
GABRIEL LAW | James Tibbles
GABRIEL YORK | Sam Barnes
GABRIELLE YORK (YOUNGER) | Freya Thomas
GABRIELLE YORK (OLDER) | Karla Ptacek
HENRY LAW | David Pearson
JOE RYAN | Marcus Ezekiel

CREATIVE TEAM

DIRECTOR | Helena Bumpus
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR | Lloyd Smith
PRODUCER | Adam Coppard
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR | Kim Barker
LIGHTING DESIGNER | Olly Levett
SOUND DESIGNER and ORIGINAL MUISC | Adam Lockett
COSTUME DESIGNER | Wing-Ho Lin
SET CONSTRUCTION | Andrew Laidlaw
MARKETING and PROGRAMME | Stephen Beeny
REHEARSAL PHOTOGRAPHY and HEADSHOTS | David Ovenden
PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY | Stephen Russell
COMMITTEE LIAISON | Matt Gould

Sedos have once again managed to gather a group of talented performers who embrace the challenges of this complex narrative where younger and older versions of the same character share the acting space… this is an ensemble piece, with all cast on stage at all times. Their seamless joining up of the scenes as they move through time and space is brilliantly executed and allows the audience to follow the complexity of the plot with ease… The multifunctional set with hanging window, large oval table and useful blocks either side of the stage, provide the perfect vehicle to allow the scenes to flow seamlessly between past and present. The beautifully choreographed opening when the cast move from the gallery, armed with umbrellas and coats that are deposited on a hat stand, the simplicity of the costumes which suit the period and keep the audience aware as the scenes move through time, all worked together to help create a show that totally engages the audience… It is the sound and lighting, however, that really draw together the different threads and keep us aware of the fact that this is a play whose themes resonate through the generations… Bovell’s play is not for the faint hearted and it is to the credit of the performers, director Helena Bumpus and assistant director, Lloyd Smith, that by the end of the production, as all the characters gather together, the loose ends have been woven in and we see the complete picture

Sedos’ production does a wonderful job leading us through the puzzle, ensuring the experience treads the right line of mystery without confusion… Of particular note is the immense production value of this ‘amateur’ show. The borderless set supports well the fluidity of the piece as it drifts across time and space. The lighting is inventive and atmospheric, accenting the narrative structure with flickering lights as we cross a boundary into a different storyline and providing starry nights in the Australian outback. Music is used deftly throughout the piece, binding the different worlds with a perpetual stormy underscore and swelling cinematically at key moments. These all came together well to elevate the show into the relatively cavernous space at the Bridewell… this was a solid production of a challenging play.

Transitions between scenes, and discipline with regards to the movement of characters in and out of their parts is highly commendable, which is directed by Kimberly Barker, along with the lighting use that faultlessly works in conjunction with this. To imitate snow or stars, and with other appearances throughout, lighting designer, Olly Levett, does a lovely job with navigating these. The thunder and lightning that accompany the constant rainfall is a fitting addition too.