A single mum, a teenage daughter, and a new life in a regional town where neither quite fits. Billie is 16 and restless, trying to navigate the chaos of adolescence. Mum, meanwhile, is spinning into a rebellion of her own – in the sweaty, rough and radical world of roller derby.
Read on for Co-Creator & Director Clare Watson’s view on show, life and community.
How would you describe your show to someone who knows very little about it?
Ambitious, scary and hilarious. It’s the story of a single mum and her teen daughter who arrive in a regional town to ‘settle down’ which is definitely not Mum’s vibe. She’s a bit of a rat bag who loves an adventure and cringes at stillness. Billie, her daughter, plays the parent in the duo. She’s a creative genius but struggling with her mental health lately. The pair are best friends who love each other deeply. They’re fast talking and witty – a bit Gilmore Girls energy. In the show, we follow their journeys as they navigate growing together but also apart. Mama, as the name might suggest, gets into roller derby – and that’s when things really kick off. Staged on a roller derby flat track, the audience sit in traverse. We’ve got a cast of fabulous and talented actors including Amber McMahon and Elvy-Lee Quici, who are joined by ten roller derby athletes and a live band. It’s one of the most ambitious shows we’ve ever made at Windmill.
What makes it stand out and why should people see it?
It’s written by the iconic Virginia Gay, brought to life by some of the best creatives in Australia, so it’s already operating at the highest level theatrically. Add in roller derby athletes, a live band, outrageous costumes, big laughs and big themes. It’s bold, loud, tender and unapologetic. There is also one character we absolutely cannot reveal but they are genuinely terrifying in the best, most thrilling way. People should see it because it’s theatre that takes a risk, trusts its audience, and delivers something exciting and joyful.
How long was the process from idea to writing to stage? Any challenges along the way?
Mama Does Derby is actually very personal work for me and one that’s been one that’s been rolling around in my head for years. I went along to roller derby for the very first time in 2008. I was suddenly holding a can of beer aloft and screaming obscenities at the top of my voice, watching this sport that was fast and fierce and fun – highly entertaining and highly theatrical. I watched athletes who were fully in their power. It was thrilling. Fast forward to 2023 when I joined Windmill as Artistic Director and I contacted Virginia who is long term friend and collaborator to create the work. From there, we had a few creative development periods (some just with Virginia, Ivy, my daughter, and I, some with actors). Then rehearsals for six weeks then into tech before we hit the stage! Challenges? Sure! A show of this scale with so many moving parts (literally… the entire stage is on wheels) will always encounter problems to be solved, but creatively there are enormous rewards when things click into place. Any theatre work has this to some degree, but that uncertainty is part of the process. It’s where the creativity lives and it’s exactly why I love making work like this. I love to push myself and the work as far as it can go.
Please tell me about what attracts you to the Sydney Festival and why you love performing there.
Sydney Festival has always been a place that champions bold, ambitious work, so it feels like the perfect home for a show like Mama Does Derby. This year feels especially meaningful as it’s Kris Nelson’s first festival as Artistic Director plus it’s the Festival’s 50th anniversary. We’re so honoured and humbled and excited to be part of that moment and are incredibly grateful for their support as a commissioning partner.
How would you describe your relationship with the audience and what do you love the most about live performance?
I think of the audience as collaborators. This show doesn’t work without their energy. They’re close, they feel the speed and joy of the track. What I love most about live performance is that shared breath in the room, that feeling like anything could happen. It’s messy and electric and human, and you can never replicate it anywhere else.
Who would you say has been your biggest inspirations?
Absolutely my daughter, Ivy, who is my inspiration both in life and in making this show.
What are three things that would surprise people to learn about you?
Mama Does Derby is loosely based on my real-life story with my daughter, Ivy, who is also the Story Consultant on the work.
I’ve walked the Camino de Santiago a few times.
I’m into salsa dancing! What I lack in skill, I make up for with enthusiasm.
Finally, what would you like audiences to take away from the show?
Mama Does Derby is a reminder of the vital importance and power of community. I hope audiences leave feeling exhilarated, moved and ready to sign up to watch or play derby. I want them to laugh hard, feel seen and think differently about independence, fear and reinvention. At its heart, the show is about giving yourself permission to change – loudly, messily and on your own terms. We can’t wait for people to see it
Action-packed, hilarious and heartfelt, Mama Does Derby is about resilience and reinvention, about getting knocked down and getting back up again.
January 15 – 22
