A Steady Rain

Aparo Productions acknowledges the Yuggera and Turrbal people, the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather together. We pay our respects to elders past and present.

DIRECTORS NOTE When Matty asked me to direct A Steady Rain, starring himself and Zac, there was no hesitation.

I had the pleasure of working with Zac as a performer in 2023, and later as codirector and co-producer on our production of The Cagebirds in 2024. While I hadn't yet had the opportunity to see Matt's work, I had heard wonderful things about him as both a performer and a person from people in Brisbane whose opinions I deeply value.

After reading the play for the first time, my immediate thought was, "What have I gotten myself into?" It is an absolute beast of a script. My second thought was, "Why this story? Why now?" Two police officers in Chicago at the turn of the millennium seemed, at first glance, far removed from our own lives. Yet through countless hours of discussion, analysis, and exploration, we discovered a deeply human story: two people plagued by their own demons, struggling with ego, identity, responsibility, and the trauma that accompanies senseless violence.

At its heart, the play asks what unhealed wounds can do to a person, and how we make sense of a world that often feels darker than we would like it to be. In doing so, it reminds us to appreciate what we have while we have it; "a lighter air, a brighter sky."

I have rarely worked with two actors as passionate and dedicated as Matthew and Zachary. Their determination, generosity, and willingness to be vulnerable throughout this process have been both moving and inspiring. For any director, it is a remarkable gift.

MEGAN HIND DIRECTOR

MATTHEW FILKINS DENNY / PRODUCER

ZAC BOULTON JOEY

Matthew is the founder and producer for Aparo Productions, A Steady Rain marks the premiere show for the company.

Zac Boulton is an actor, director, and filmmaker based in Brisbane.

Previous credits include: Brace Brace (PiP Theatre), The Dead Devil of Cockle Creek (Cut and Run Productions – Matilida Aware nomination for best supporting actor), Love you Hate you Drive you Wild (Minola Theatre), The Art of Courage (Brisbane Immersive Theatre).

A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet (4MBS) He is a graduate of the University of Queensland Bachelor of Arts – Extended Drama Major, a puppeteer performer for Camp Quality and a proud equity member since 2008.

His recent credits include Dad/Jett in Consumed (Shock Therapy Arts, 2026), Xavier in Congratulations, Get Rich! by Merlynn Tong (La Boite Theatre, 2025), Dale in Good Cop/Bad Cop (Stan, 2025), Security Guard in Monarch (Apple TV+, 2025), Young Officer in Nautilus (Disney, 2023), Clyde in Brisbane (2026), and Hooker in The Brighton Miracle (2020).

His other work includes Gus in Fish (White Rabbit Theatre, 2025), Pat Malone in Pat Malone’s Magic Garden (Shock Therapy Arts, 2025), Seb in FUEL (Shock Therapy Arts, 2025), Bill in My Father’s Wars by Elaine Acworth (2021-22), and Lead/Ensemble in Woman in the House in the Dunes (Belloo Creative, 2020). He also co-directed and produced The Cage birds by David Campton (2024).

As a filmmaker, Zac wrote and directed and produced the award-winning short film Jessy (2021) and directed and produced award winning Stalk This Way

by Winnie Membe (2025).

PROMOTIONAL IMAGES: KRIS ANDERSON REHEARSAL & PROMO IMAGES/VIDEOS: CREATIVE STREET PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY: PIP SUSCHINSKY

Megan Hind is a director and movement specialist working across theatre, performance, and large-scale cultural events. A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art and recipient of the Keith Bain OAM Scholarship for Movement, her practice is grounded in a rigorous physical approach to storytelling that integrates body, space, rhythm, and text.

Before training as an actor, Megan established an international career as a high fashion model, working across major magazines and catwalks. This experience continues to inform her acute visual intelligence, spatial awareness, and understanding of the body as a communicative instrument - foundations that are central to her directing and movement work. Megan’s directing is distinguished by a strong visual language and embodied precision, often drawing on methodologies including Lecoq, Laban, and biomechanics to craft performances that are both viscerally engaging and emotionally resonant.

MEGAN HIND Director

She has directed and developed works such as The Cagebirds and Reuben Guthrie, alongside movement direction for productions including Nosferatu and Lysa and the Freeborn Dames. Her work consistently prioritises ensemble connection, physical clarity, and the translation of internal states into dynamic stage action.

Alongside her creative practice, Megan has extensive experience as a movement and acting lecturer, where she has guided emerging performers in developing truthful, responsive, and physically articulate work. Her teaching and directing are united by a commitment to process-led exploration, consent-based rehearsal environments, and the cultivation of confident, autonomous artists.

Internationally, Megan has applied her creative and movement expertise within complex live environments, contributing to large-scale programming and performance delivery at Expo 2025 Osaka. This experience further informs her ability to bridge artistic vision with operational precision, particularly in high-pressure and interdisciplinary contexts.

Megan is driven by a deep commitment to the rehearsal room as a site of transformation, creating work that is both physically expressive and deeply human.

Laurene Cooper-Fox is a Brisbane-based producer, with experience across musical theatre, circus, cabaret, and community arts.

Passionate about creating opportunities for artists and fostering vibrant creative communities. Laurene is currently developing the Brisbane Clown Festival, an initiative that celebrate clowning, circus, physical theatre, and contemporary performance while creating valuable platforms for emerging and established artists. She is also actively involved with the 24 Hour Musical Foundation, supporting the development of accessible and innovative musical theatre experiences.

LAURENE COOPER-FOX Production Manager

Alongside her work in live performance, Laurene has spent more than a decade as a freelance photographer and editor through Creative Street, capturing and promoting arts, community, and cultural events. She has worked with various arts organisations as Wilde Applause Creative Productions, Vulcana Circus, 4MBS, Brisbane Shakespeare Festival, Small Crown Productions and contributing to touring logistics, administration, and design for productions touring throughout Queensland and beyond.

Through her diverse portfolio of work, Laurene continues to champion accessible arts experiences, support artist development, and create memorable performances that bring people together through creativity, connection, and shared joy.

CONTENT WARNINGS

CONTENT WARNINGS A Steady Rain contains strong language, violence, racism, police corruption, child abuse, trauma, themes of suicide, and other mature subject matter.

The production includes depictions of racist attitudes and language within the context of the story and its characters and the company does not endorse these views.

Stefan Cooper-Fox is a Brisbane-based performer, circus artist, set builder, and designer witha passion for bringing stories to life both on stage and behind the scenes.

With extensive experience across theatre, circus, cabaret, and community arts, Stefan combines creative vision with practical craftsmanship to create engaging and memorable experiences for audiences.

As a skilled set builder and designer, Stefan has designed and constructed numerous theatrical sets throughout his career. Most notably, he designed and built the sets for the annual 4MBS Shakespeare Festival, creating immersive environments that enhanced the storytelling and visual impact of the productions.

STEFAN COOPER-FOX Set Co-Ordinator

His work reflects a strong understanding of both artistic design and the technical requirements of live performance.Whether performing under the lights or working behind the scenes, Stefan is dedicated to collaboration, creativity, and the transformative power of live theatre.

His diverse skill set and hands-on approach have made him a valued contributor to a wide range of productions and artistic projects throughout Queensland.

Maya McRae embodies curiosity, humility, emotional honesty, vulnerability, and play in her work.

She is a wit, a force, and a wonderful clown, sliding between melancholic deadpan and giddy insanity.

Her particular passions are Shakespeare, contradiction in character, comedy, and perioa drama, along with interests in painting and visual art.

She has trained under a plethora of beloved industry protessionals and utilises a variety of acting techniques in her pertormance.

Maya works relentlessly and is an asset to every project she takes on.

MAYA MCRAE Assistant Stage Manager Sound & Lighting Operator

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Piper Zschech (Assistant Stage Manager/ sound and lighting operator) is proud to bring the gritty atmosphere to ‘A Steady Rain.’ As a graduate from JMC ACADEMY, he has experience working both on stage and backstage, but is debuting their work within this production.

PIPER ZSCHECH Assistant Stage Manager / Sound & Lighting Operator

THANK YOU TO: PIP THEATRE FEDELE CRISCI THE SIT DOWN COMEDY CLUB SHERWOOD UNITING CHURCH JMC ACADEMY MICHAEL MAYER WOLFGANG VOIGT OF KOMPAKT GEOFF SQUIRES SOPHIE JULIAN HELEN HOWARD NJ PRICE PIP SUSCHINSKY

MUSIC CREDIT: GAS - ZAUBERBERG 5 GAS - NARKOPOP 10 GAS-KONIGSFORST 6 ALL MUSIC WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY WOLFGANG VOIGT COURTESY OF KOMPAK

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