The magic and drama of a cast caught in Constellations

Posted on 10 April, 2026

Theoretical physics tangles with a love of nature when an improbable romance evolves between a physicist, Marianne, and a beekeeper, Roland.

What would happen if we were given the chance to replay the same conversation over and over again?

That’s the question at the heart of Nick Payne’s Constellations – Free‑Rain Theatre Company’s latest production.

Constellations explores a chance encounter and the relationship that follows – moments of grace and grit and the familiar highs and lows experienced when we connect with another human being. It leads the audience to ponder whether we have free will or are we just particles governed by a series of very particular laws being knocked around all over the place?

Running in the intimate confines of ACT Hub between Thursday 16  and Saturday 25 April, the play is a masterclass in theatrical economy and conceptual ambition. In just two roles and a series of short, sharp scenes, Payne constructs a multiverse of emotional possibility – a relationship refracted through countless variations, each shaped by the smallest shifts in tone, timing or intention.

The play’s structure draws on quantum multiverse theory, but its power lies in how that scientific idea becomes a metaphor for human experience. Every moment in a relationship contains multiple potential outcomes; every choice, however minor, can alter the trajectory of a life. Payne’s writing captures this truth with precision: scenes repeat, diverge, fracture and realign, revealing the fragility and resilience of connection.

For performers, Constellations is a rigorous technical challenge. The actors must navigate rapid transitions between emotional states, narrative paths and alternate realities, often within seconds.  Director Kelly Somes and actors Lucy Goleby and James O’Connell all began their artistic lives in Canberra – their return to the city that shaped them mirrors the play’s exploration of paths taken and not taken — a reminder that every creative life is itself a constellation of choices, mentors and moments.

“Getting to work on this brilliant text with Kelly as a director is a dream – and again, so wonderful to feel a full circle moment – I was last directed by Kelly in a play with my now husband!,” says Lucy.

“I couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone other than Jamie, who I’ve worked with in so many productions now. We’ve been onstage enemies, husband and wife, brother and sister, nurse and patient…. He’s one of the best actors I know and it’s such a delight to work from an established place of trust and rigour.”

Kelly says she relished “diving into the nitty gritty of Payne’s wonderfully rich two hander. Payne has given us a work that we all can relate to as we experience the relationship between Marianne and Roland in all its grace and grit.

“It is exciting to be returning to Canberra, a place that has provided me, and so many other artists, with a rich start to their careers.”

James and Lucy met while both studying theatre studies and doing shows in the ANU Drama Lab, and James says since then “we’ve both performed on some of the biggest Australian stages a few times together! It’s such a treat to come back to Canberra and do this fantastic play together in such an intimate venue like ACT Hub.”

The cosy confines of ACT Hub enable the audience to be close enough to witness the granular detail of performance, with Free‑Rain Theatre Company known for its commitment to artistic excellence, community engagement and the development of emerging talent. Since its founding 30 years ago, Free‑Rain has produced a diverse body of work ranging from contemporary drama to large‑scale musicals, while providing a vital training ground for performers, directors and designers who have gone on to national and international careers.

In 2026, Free‑Rain launches the inaugural Free‑Rain Theatre Company Scholarship, a new initiative supporting emerging Canberran theatre practitioners to undertake tertiary study at recognised institutions in Australia or overseas. The scholarship reflects Free‑Rain’s enduring belief in the transformative power of early opportunity and mentorship – values that continue to shape the company’s artistic vision.