A Belloo production

ROVERS SCHOOL TOUR & YARNING CIRCLE

By Katherine Lyall-Watson
with roxanne mcdonald & barbara lowing

CO-CREATED & Directed by Caroline Dunphy

Barbara Lowing and Roxanne McDonald. Photo by Morgan Roberts.

Celebrate the Grit and Daring of Australian Women

A 40-Minute Performance

From the award-winning Belloo team, ROVERS Schools Tour is a bold and adventurous theatre work celebrating the grit and daring of Australian women. Performed by two of Australia's most beloved actors, Roxanne McDonald and Barbara Lowing,, this nimble two-hander journeys through the heart-lines of their own lives and into the hilarious misadventures of the remarkable women who shaped them. Blending true family stories with tales of Australia's first female bushrangers, Black Mary and Jessie Hickman, the show packs an epic adventure into a dynamic 40-minute performance, travelling through multiple stories, unforgettable characters and generations of remarkable women.

This contemporary comedy-drama will have students laughing, reflecting, and connecting with the inspiring stories of women who carved their own paths. If you’ve ever faced a challenge, kept a family secret, or embraced an unexpected adventure, this fast-paced, funny, and heartfelt exploration of resilience and identity will resonate.

 A 20-Minute Yarning Circle

Following the performance, students are invited to participate in a yarning circle — a space for open discussion, shared reflection and deeper engagement with the themes of ROVERS Schools Tour. This session encourages students to explore storytelling, representation and historical narratives, fostering critical thinking and meaningful dialogue.

ROVERS Schools Tour is an unforgettable theatrical experience aligned with curriculum priorities in Drama, English and Humanities, offering students a rich and thought-provoking exploration of Australian stories, history and identity.

  • Recommended age:
    Year 10 - Year 12

    Duration: 40 mins

    Setup: 2 hrs, pack down: 1 hr.

    Tech: PA system & small rostra; lighting optional.

    Touring party: 2 actors, 1 stage manager.

    Optional 20-min post-show yarning circle led by Roxanne McDonald, a First Nations woman of Mandandanji, Wangan, and Darumbal descent.

    Can travel up to 200km from Brisbane

  • Writer Katherine Lyall-Watson with Roxanne McDonald and Barbara Lowing
    Director Caroline Dunphy
    Starring Roxanne McDonald and Barbara Lowing
    Dramaturg Kathryn Kelly
    Producer Kristen Maloney

    Photos by Morgan Roberts



  • 20 November 2025 | Hymba Yumba Independent School

  • The Rovers School Tour is supported by Arts Queensland (QASP).


    Belloo is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Making of Rovers

Rovers premiered in 2018 and has been presented at Brisbane Festival, NORPA in Lismore and Maleny Community Hall. During COVID-19, following the cancellation of a national tour, the work was adapted into a web series and broadcast nationally by Critical Stages as part of their digital performance program, before being acquired by SBS On Demand. This history demonstrates the work’s artistic quality, adaptability and proven audience reach.

In 2026, we are extending the project into schools through a thoughtfully modified 40-minute version, specifically designed for secondary students and aligned to key educational outcomes, followed by a facilitated yarning circle.

The school version retains the emotional impact, theatricality and core themes of the original production while being carefully structured for curriculum relevance and age-appropriate engagement.