Mama Does Derby

Sydney Festival is again using the soaring grandeur of the Town Hall for its most immersive theatrical highlight.  After starring as a beachscape, a tennis court and a Wild West town, it’s now a huge oval link, spinning with the young, mainly female Sydney Roller Derby League skaters, warming up for the derby which ends this kinetic, multifaceted new show.

The dozen skaters are also speedily moving the central platforms on which the country town story of Mama Does Derby unfolds.

Written by Victoria Gay and the director Clare Watson, artistic director of Adelaide’s Windmill Theatre for young audiences, 16-year-old Billie is losing patience with her ever restless, adventurous Mama/Maxine. The two are best of buddies but Billie wants to stop travelling, to be just a teenager and settle her own demons. Plus see her manic Mum act her age!   It’s a conundrum, especially when Mama finds her crowd in the local Derby League.

Amber McMahon is an attractive, empathic Maxine as she struggles with being a single mother and responsible adult, while as Billie, Elvy-Lee Quici is authentic in trying to solve her world, and explore her mutual love interest with young Hux (Aud Mason-Hyde). From under Billie’s bed, an elongated figure in black sequins with spindly fingers regularly emerges to haunt her. Benjamin Hancock is a choreographic star as the demon, initially terrifying, later, as Billie heals, rather camp and just part of the furniture.

Mother and daughter have regular (hilarious) sessions with the struggling town psychologist (Annabel Matheson), as the skaters push them on furniture around the link.  Gay and Watson’s script is witty and perceptive about a perennial teenage (and adult) anxiety. These quick scenes are punctuated with stirring punk rock segments from vocalist guitarist Joe Paradise Lui (with Calliope Jackson and Antoine Jelk) on their own platform with rollers.

The drama develops as the town and the wild skaters show their community support of the new arrivals in town.  But playing from centre-stage to the audience on both sides, and across a skating track, does splice our concentration and focus on the story, especially at the beginning.  While problematic, the constantly moveable platforms are a credit to designer Jonathon Oxlade.  And the enthusiasm of those rowdy skaters is infectious, an energetic brew which should make this show a winner for young audiences – if, as is always said in the theatre, they can afford it.   

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After this world premiere Mama Does Derby is at the Adelaide Festival next month and later the Brisbane Festival, each sporting their own local roller derby leagues.

Martin Portus

Photographer: Claudio Raschella