Married actors Kate Raison and Brian Meegan starring in their sixth play together at Kirribilli’s Ensemble Theatre

THE first play that married actors Kate Raison and Brian Meegan starred in together was called Wrong for Each Other but 20 years later, they’ve proved it was no omen.

Kate Raison and Brian Meegan with their daughter Hannah-Rae, who also works at the Ensemble Theatre. Picture: Virginia Young

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HANNAH-RAE MEEGAN was the opening act in her parents’ first appearance on stage together.

She was only a newborn when mum Kate Raison and dad Brian Meegan starred in the first of what would become half-a-dozen co-productions.

It was at the Ensemble Theatre at Kirribilli in 1997 and Raison remembers Hannah-Rae being rocked to sleep during rehearsals.

“We said yes to the play not knowing I was pregnant,” said Raison. “We had one week of rehearsals before I went off to the have the baby, returning six weeks later to resume rehearsals.”

Now 20 years later, Raison and Meegan are again on stage together at the Ensemble in the play Two and Hannah-Rae isn’t too far away.

Kate Raison and Brian Meegan with Hannah-Rae when she was still a baby.

A university student, Hannah-Rae, 20, works as an usher and behind the bar at the Ensemble.

“Hannah now tells us funny stories about what happens at the Ensemble,” laughs Raison.

“Hannah grew up in the Ensemble, and grew up with actors and directors, with her parents learning lines and worrying about where the next job was coming from. ”

Often the next job was coming from the Ensemble as Raison has performed 20 plays at the Kirribilli theatre, while Meegan’s tally is 16.

Although clearly right for each other, Raison and Meegan’s first play together in 1997 was called Wrong For Each Other and was about a divorcing couple.

Meegan and Raison starring together in Wrong For Each Other in 1997.

Their latest play Two is also about a couple in conflict, a publican and his wife. It’s a demanding but wry comedy because Raison and Meegan also have to play 12 other characters who are the pub’s regulars.

The couple say that unlike the onstage drama, working together doesn’t cause conflict.

“If we didn’t like working together, we wouldn’t do it,” said Meegan.

“We do have a bit more leeway in rehearsals because we know each other so well,” said Raison.

Hannah-Rae is studying film at the AFTRS and has already produced two Tropfest finalists. Together with fellow student Monique Terry, Hannah-Rae has also directed her mother in the film Bring me back ma.

Two opens at the Ensemble on March 24, until May 6. Bookings: ensemble.com.au