belloo creative and critical stages present

ROVERS

By Katherine Lyall-Watson
with roxanne mcdonald & barbara lowing

CO-CREATED & Directed by Caroline Dunphy

Celebrate the Grit and Daring of Australian Women

Woven from true stories and wild imaginings, Rovers is a rigorous and poetic work that resonates with audiences of all ages.

A contemporary comedy-drama and nimble two-hander, Rovers has audiences laughing, crying, and celebrating the grit and daring of women trailblazers.

Intrepid performers Roxanne McDonald and Barbara Lowing take the wheel and steer audiences through risky terrain — journeying along the heartlines of their own lives and into the hilarious misadventures of the women who made them who they are today.

Join two of Australia’s most beloved actors on an epic adventure through the rough and tumble of multiple stories, characters, and generations of remarkable women.

  • Duration: 60 minutes, no interval

    Content warning: This production uses haze.

    Recommended age: 15+

  • 2018 PRODUCTION

    Writer Katherine Lyall-Watson with Roxanne McDonald and Barbara Lowing
    Director Caroline Dunphy
    Starring Roxanne McDonald and Barbara Lowing
    Vocal Artist Kirk Page
    Composer & Sound Designer Dane Alexander
    Lighting Designer Christine Felmingham
    Set Designer Jonathan Shankey & Caroline Dunphy
    Costume Design Oscar Hannah Clark
    Cultural Consultant Nadine McDonald-Dowd
    Dramaturg Kathryn Kelly
    Producer Danielle Shankey
    Sound Design Intern Isabella Hall
    Videography & Performance Joel Kishinevsky & Michael Tuahine
    Technical Manager & Projection Designer Jeremy Gordon
    Production Manager Peter Cossar
    Community Engagement Emily Coleman
    Marketing Cinnamon Smith

    2021 TOUR

    Writer Katherine Lyall-Watson
    Director Caroline Dunphy
    Starring Roxanne McDonald and Barbara Lowing
    Dramaturg Kathryn Kelly
    Stage Manager Stephen Rowan
    Lighting Designer Christine Felmingham
    Assistant Stage Manager & Funeral Director Peter Cossar
    Cultural Consultant & Community Engagement Paula Nazarski
    Special thanks to Aunty Colleen Wall & Critical Stages.

  • 18–19 August 2018 | NORPA | Lismore, Australia
    26 August 2018 | Maleny Community Hall | Maleny, Australia
    11–15 September 2018 | Brisbane Festival | Theatre Republic, The Block, QUT | Brisbane, Australia

  • Rovers was developed with the support of NORPA and premiered at NORPA on 17 August 2018.

    Rovers performed at Brisbane Festival from 11 September to 15 September 2018 at The Block, Theatre Republic.

    Belloo Creative is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

    Rovers is proudly supported by Creative Sparks. The Creative Sparks Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council to support local arts and culture in Brisbane.

    This project is supported by YWCA Queensland.

    Kathryn Kelly’s role supported by Queensland University of Technology. 

    This project was supported by Queensland Theatre through the provision of in-kind venues.

    Rovers Tour has been made possible with assistance from the Arts Queensland Playing Queensland Fund and Critical Stages.

The Reviews are In

This is theatre at its best. — Australian Stage

“I remain gobsmacked, with lingering scenes, words and music still rattling around my brain. I want to witness it all over again!” — Australian Stage

“Thank you for bringing the stories of these women to the stage I didn’t know I needed it until I saw it” — Anonymous Audience Survey

“under Caroline Dunphy’s direction, the hour-long share of outback tales of trailblazing women flies by as audience imaginations are invigorated and inspired” — Blue Curtains Brisbane

“sincere and completely charming” — XS Entertainment

“Barbara Lowing and Roxanne McDonald are resplendent in Rovers” — Stage Whispers

“I just wanted to say what a joy it was to start my day with the ‘Rovers’ video – with two extraordinary humans – and, of course, all the other extraordinary humans who made it!! Thank you!! Can’t wait for the show to be in our place!!” — Rod Ainsworth – Manager Arts & Cultural Services, Bundaberg Council

Making Rovers

We created Rovers to celebrate the exceptional talents of Barbara Lowing and Roxanne McDonald.

Roxy and Barb have each worked in theatre and film, nationally and internationally, for more than 30 years. After two decades of wanting to collaborate again, Rovers became the opportunity to reunite them on stage.

Some sections of the work are taken verbatim from interviews with Barb and Roxy, others are drawn from imagination, and some are inspired by research into Australia’s bushranging women. Together, Roxy and Barb helped shape the text into their own distinct voices.

We are deeply grateful to Roxy, Barb, Kirk Page, and Nadine McDonald-Dowd for their contributions to the early drafts of Rovers.