Get ready to roll!
Windmill Production Company is bringing something totally new to the 2026 Adelaide Festival; Mama Does Derby is hitting the stage from February 27 to March 8 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre.
This world premiere teams up director Clare Watson and writer Virginia Gay for a theatrical mash-up that’s part roller derby, part heartwarming family story.
On stage, the rink is alive. The audience gets a front-row seat to a high-energy roller derby match as a mother-daughter duo races through the ups and downs of family life, identity, and personal growth. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s full of surprising twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat… or maybe the edge of your skates.
The show runs for 1 hour and 30 minutes, with no interval, so get ready for a fast-paced, full-throttle theatre experience. Heads up: there’s strong language, action-packed derby bumps, themes about mental health, and some theatrical smoke, haze, and strobe effects, plus live music and big, bold sound. Definitely a show to watch with a grown-up.
Helping bring the story to life is an all-star creative crew: Larissa McGowan as assistant director and choreographer, designer Jonathan Oxlade, lighting wizard Lucy Birkinshaw, musical director Joe Lui, and sound designer Luke Smiles. And to make it feel extra real, members of the Adelaide Roller Derby League join in on the action, zipping around the rink with energy to spare.
Adelaide Festival world premiere season
Venue: Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre
Dates: 27 February – 8 March 2026
Book now: windmill.org.au