A new theatre production, Mama Does Derby, is bringing the high-energy world of roller derby to the stage at the Sydney and Adelaide festivals. The play, based on the experiences of theatre-maker Clare Watson as a single mother searching for community, features real roller derby skaters performing choreographed sequences on a custom-built oval track.
Among the skaters is Maddy “BB Gun” Wilkinson, a 24-year-old jammer for Adelaide’s Wild Hearses. Standing at just 156cm, Wilkinson uses her speed and agility to weave through opponents, relying on legal shoulder and hip checks. She took her name in honour of her late mentor, Sarah Strong-Law, the Texas-born founder of roller derby in Adelaide who died in a road accident in 2022.
Competitive roller derby began in Australia in 2007, and today there are more than 80 leagues across the country. Players adopt theatrical names and paint their faces, and the sport is known for its diverse community, including many queer skaters. Wilkinson notes that roller derby was originally promoted as a women’s community but has evolved to be inclusive of all identities.
The play, co-created by Watson and writer Virginia Gay, tells the story of a single mother whose chaotic energy leads her to join a roller derby team while trying to connect with her teenage daughter. Each performance will feature 10 players moving set pieces around the actors, with the Sydney shows taking place in the round at the historic town hall. The production team is taking care to protect the hall’s precious wooden floor and grand organ.
Watson first encountered roller derby in 2008 and was struck by the athleticism and theatricality of the sport. She signed up for beginners training with the Victorian Roller Derby League, bringing along her six-year-old daughter. However, after witnessing a serious accident where a skater broke their cheekbone, Watson decided not to pursue competitive skating. She says the show is a tribute to Strong-Law, who inspired the sport in Australia.
