Photo Flash: First Look- WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING by Andrew Bovell

New Theatre's production of When the Rain Stops Falling, the award-winning play by Australian writer Andrew Bovell, opens this week with previews starting from tomorrow night (Tuesday 17 March). Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the show!

When the Rain Stops Falling won the Victorian Premier''s Literary Award, Queensland Premier's Literary Award and Green Room Award in 2008 and the Sydney Theatre Award for Best New Australian Work in 2009. It has been produced internationally to great acclaim, and earlier this month the cast of the Madrid production garnered one of Spain''s top theatre awards, winning for Best Ensemble.

Director Rachel Chant says of When the Rain Stops Falling: "When I first saw this play at the Sydney Opera House a few years ago, it broke me - in all the right places.

"In the midst of a play that looks at family and relationships, Andrew Bovell's script manages to discuss global warming, capitalism, reconciliation, our national history, national identity, and our relationship to land. And he does it so craftily that we hardly notice it''s even happening. He asks how we can create both a better physical and emotional environment for our future generations, through simply showing us branches of the lives of one big family tree.

"I hope audiences love this play as much as I do. And I hope they come out and want to talk to each other: about our mistakes, the things we are ashamed of, our monumental stuff ups - no matter how dark and painful - because that''s our only hope of moving forwards.

"And most importantly, I hope that audiences will see how brilliant Andrew Bovell is and how important he is to Australian theatre and Australian playwriting."

With a top cast including young talents Tom Conroy (Green Room Award for Best Male Performer, 2010), 2012 WAAPA graduate Renae Small making her Sydney stage debut, and Hailey McQueen, joined by veterans David Woodland, Olivia Brown, Helen Tonkin and Peter McAllum, When the Rain Stops Falling is shaping up to be one of the top independent productions of 2015.

When the Rain Stops Falling plays at New Theatre from 17 March until 18 April. Tickets range from $17 (previews and Thrifty Thursdays) to $32 and are available online (with NO booking fee) at www.newtheatre.org.au

Photo credit: Bob Seary for New Theatre