“NUTS” is the very active ANU National University Theatre Society. 

They’re staging a new production of “When the Rain Stops Falling” by Andrew Bovell, the playwright most recently known for  his  adaption of Kate Grenville’s novel “The Secret River,” but before that  for his play “Speaking in Tongue,” later adapted to become the film “Lantana.”

We saw the play a couple of years ago at the Canberra Theatre and now student directors Ellie Greenwood and Gowrie Varma have taken on this complex work, with actors Zoe Cameron, Andrew Eddey, John Grant, Lewis Hirst, Abbie Jones, Bojana Kos, Saskia Roberts, Stephen Watson and Shaun Wykes.

Briefly, it begins in Alice Springs in the year 2039. A fish falls from the sky and lands at the feet of Gabriel York, whose  past has always been a mystery.

As Gabriel grapples with his past, the stories of his ancestors are played out, and the history of his family unravels in a story that spans four generations and two continents.

“When the Rain Stops Falling,” at the ANU Arts Centre 7:30pm May 1, 2, 3 and 4, tickets at the  door or at http://shop.anusa.com.au/performancetickets/