Roller Coaster
If you want to learn how to fly, you’ve got to learn how to fall.
Roller Coaster is a fierce new participatory production, exploring the ups and downs of life on wheels.
Based on real stories, this epic spectacle is a journey through the lives of skating humans who collide with their destiny and are sent smashing into the very best versions of themselves, coming out bloodier, bolder, and braver than ever before.
Featuring an explosive live soundtrack of all new original music, live roller-skating , and a series of action-packed interconnecting stories, Roller Coaster is a deeply personal, thrilling and heart-warming ride to finding your tribe.
Roller Coaster was first premiered at Bleach* Festival on the Gold Coast from 3 – 5 August at HOTA Home of the Arts and is available for presentation in communities across Australia from 2024 onwards.
Roller Coaster– The Residency
The work can be staged as a stand alone production or with a deep dive residency model delivered in multiple stages in communities.
This Residency format was piloted in 2022 as part of Bleach Festival on the Gold Coast. Over several days we were Company-In-Residence at local music and event precinct Miami Marketta, exploring Skate, Story and Song with a diverse collection of local skating humans. The Residency included; community song writing workshops, talks, choreographic experiments and performance event for all ages including- craft workshops & skate lessons, bands & performance showing.
"I don't even know how to describe it, it's been amazing to have a space to be able to share our experiences & our journey and to be able to see that put into music & then skate to it. It's such an awesome feeling you get!"
Courtney MuldoonEast Coast Roller Derby"It completely surpassed my expectations, the whole week was awesome and I’m still reeling from it quite a few weeks later."
Lucy Community Skater"Being a part of Roller Coaster helped me to do something outside of my comfort zone, and in turn encourage my children to do the same. It helped me to feel connected to people in the community and be a part of an artistic experience."
Sarah BrophyCommunity SkaterPartners
Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund—an Australian Government initiative
Women’s Health and Equality Queensland
Griffith University
Co- Directors
Ian Pidd, Kate Baggerson, Bec Reid
Producers
Pru Wilson, Ainslee Palmer
Musical Director
Luke McDonald
Lyricist, Residency Musician, Original Concept
Nadia Sunde
Residency Songwriter & Musician
Deb Suckling, Dee Bradbery, Ella Fence, Luke McDonald, Nadia Sundé, Regotron
Creative Consultant & story contributor
Monie Bones
