Rovers
Belloo Creative
Booking Details
Event details
ROVERS
Celebrate the grit and daring of Australian women.
By Katherine Lyall-Watson
With Roxanne McDonald & Barbara Lowing
Co-Created & Directed by Caroline Dunphy
A 40-Minute Performance
Rovers comes from the award-winning Belloo team and is a bold, original work that celebrates the grit and daring of Australian women. Written by Katherine Lyall-Watson and directed by Caroline Dunphy, this epic and adventurous production weaves true stories with wild imaginings, creating a dynamic and engaging theatrical experience for students.
This contemporary comedy-drama is a nimble two-hander that will have students laughing, reflecting, and connecting with the inspiring stories of women who have carved their own paths. If you’ve ever faced a challenge, kept a family secret, or embraced an unexpected adventure, then this fast-paced, funny, and heartwarming exploration of resilience and identity will resonate.
Join intrepid performers Roxanne McDonald and Barbara Lowing as they take students on an epic journey—one filled with risk, resilience, and humour. Through dynamic storytelling, multiple characters, and rich theatricality, they bring to life the extraordinary women who have shaped Australian history and culture.
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. This session encourages students to explore storytelling, representation, and historical narratives, fostering critical thinking and meaningful dialogue.
Rovers is an unforgettable theatrical experience that aligns with curriculum priorities in Drama, English, and Humanities, offering students a rich and thought-provoking exploration of Australian stories, history, and identity.
Key learning outcomes
Exploring Themes, Performance, and Cultural Contexts in Rovers through Drama and Beyond
Rovers is a contemporary Australian theatre production that offers rich educational value for students studying drama, performance, and interdisciplinary subjects.
Designed for audiences aged 15 and over, Rovers presents an engaging, multi-layered theatrical experience that aligns with curriculum priorities in The Arts, English, and Humanities.
Through engagement with the performance, students will develop the following key learning outcomes:
Knowledge & Understanding
- Exploration of Australian Theatre & Storytelling – Understanding the role of Australian theatre in cultural storytelling, personal narratives, historical figures, and real-life experiences.
- Cultural & Historical Awareness – Exploring female bushrangers and First Nations perspectives, engaging with historical and cultural narratives.
- Dramatic Forms & Styles – Exposure to verbatim theatre, realism, heightened realism, Indigenous storytelling, and physical theatre.
- Symbolism & Theatrical Conventions – Analysing dramatic tension, movement, contrast, and space in performance.
Skills Development
- Acting & Performance – Applying techniques in voice, movement, characterisation, and multi-role performance.
- Scriptwriting & Play Analysis – Studying dramatic structure, character relationships, and storytelling techniques.
- Directing & Creative Vision – Understanding how directors shape time, space, and mood.
- Critical Thinking & Analysis – Evaluating themes, dramatic conventions, and artistic choices.
- Collaboration & Ensemble Work – Engaging in group performance and creative projects.
Personal & Creative Growth
- Empathy & Perspective-Taking – Exploring identity, resilience, and women’s roles in history.
- Confidence & Self-Expression – Understanding how theatre can empower performers and audiences.
- Connection to Broader Social Issues – Discussing migration, displacement, and cultural identity.
- Assessment & Practical Application
- Curriculum Alignment – Supports Australian Curriculum: The Arts – Drama and senior drama syllabi across states.
- Cross-Curricular Relevance – Applicable to English, Indigenous Studies, and History.
- Practical Learning & Assessment – Provides a stimulus for performance tasks, written analysis, devising exercises, and directing studies.
As an engaging, high-quality theatrical work, Rovers provides students with valuable insight into Australian theatre-making, storytelling, and performance, making it an excellent choice for schools and educators.
Additional Information
Rovers is a flexible theatre production suitable for school venues i.e; theatres, multi-purpose halls, and undercover assembly areas.
Performance: 40 mins ($1,500, max 500 students).
Setup: 2 hrs, pack down: 1 hr.
Tech: PA system & small rostra; lighting optional.
Touring party: 2 actors, 1 stage manager.
Optional 30-min post-show yarning circle ($500, max 40 students) led by Roxanne McDonald, a First Nations woman of Mandandanji, Wangan, and Darumbal descent.
The current rates are based on travel within a 200km radius of Brisbane, which is suitable for one-day engagements. However, if the school is seeking a two-day (or longer) engagement, accommodation and per diems would need to be covered as additional costs.
Per diems would follow the Live Performance Award rates:
- Meals: $50.03 per day
- Incidentals: $22.19 per day
Accommodation requirements are a 3-star hotel or equivalent serviced apartment, with private rooms for all artists and crew. Costs vary depending on location, but typically fall within the $200–$250 per night range.
Contact Belloo Creative for Rovers
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About the Artist
Founded in 2013 by four women, Belloo is a female-led, award-winning Australian theatre company dedicated to producing original works that fuse body and text. Under the artistic direction of Caroline Dunphy and Katherine Lyall-Watson, we create innovative, inclusive, and experiential theatre that resonates on both local and global stages. Our work is rooted in transcultural collaboration, engaging with diverse artists to foster cross-cultural dialogue and creative exchange.
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