Film and theatre all-rounder, David Paterson, is set to perform ‘When The Rain Stops Falling’ in not one, but two roles – as Gabriel York and Henry Law.
Involved in acting, directing and writing throughout the theatre and film industry for over two decades, he is now starring in Andrew Bovell's classic. David talks about the emotional strain of playing the main roles and the way in which the production has shaped him as a performer. “It's creative, it's [pause] I was going to say another 'c' word, collaborative! It's collaborative there you go that’s what it is,” he laughs.
“It's great to work with a bunch of like-minded and creative people, who have so much talent and skill. Also working towards something that is dynamic and feeling the thrill of putting on something before an audience, feeling that reaction and interaction [with the audience].”
Paterson will be playing not one, but two roles in ‘When The Rain Stops Falling’. “Other plays I sometimes struggle for a little while trying to find a way into the character, but I found this relatively easy although emotionally very, very draining... I just started blubbering from the first reading [laughs].”The play explores a number of themes including family history and relationships, according to the Director, Timothy Wynn. “This play is inescapable for everyone who has been in contact with it.”
“With this [play] it’s more about family history and the way that family history affects people and their day to day relationships, the way relationships are formed and fracture – all that kind of thing. I think in a way, a lot of people relate to it because we all have those sorts of skeletons in our closet” says David.
“It's really helped me to develop as an actor more than anything. I've never learnt so much from a production because it is so personal in a way and in order to perform a play you really have to dig deep. That has been a real challenge and a great learning process for me as well as to be able to dig the emotional depth. I don't think I've been able to do it in the same way in another production before”
Audiences can expect to be “wowed by the design… They'll be gob-smacked and a little bit breathless by what goes on onstage as the story unfolds with this great mystery that stems from a deep tragedy from years ago. I think people will love it, I think it'll be something they won't forget.”
‘When The Rain Stops Falling’ performs Ipswich Festival 21-30 April and the Judith Wright Centre 27 & 28 May
