Review: Radio Roo - Stories Unplugged — Creative Futures Photography

**Picture:** Blue Roo moves (*Image credit: Creative Futures Photography)*

Blue Roo Theatre is a not-for-profit independent production company that provides ‘an essential link between the disability community, the performing arts sector and the broader community. Supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, Blue Roo runs a ‘pathways to performance theatre program,’ and offers workshops, paid mentoring, tours, and opportunities to star on the Queensland Multicultural Centre stage.

The latest Blue Roo mainstage production, Radio Roo: Stories Unplugged, is a great show. Sister Margurite O’Malley (Rosie) sets the scene, when announcing that the radio station is in peril ‘ so we need you to tune in and listen.’ Paying homage to the radio variety shows of times past, the show is set inside a radio studio—where the ensemble members draw on their lived experiences to share a series of vignettes that include musical numbers, a radio play, poetry readings, advertising breaks, and even an author’s promotional interview.

The Blue Roo production team and creatives, led by Co-Creative Director Clint Bolster and Co-Director Maureen Bowra have taken a great concept, and workshopped it thoroughly with the enthusiastic cast members to deliver a light-hearted piece of theatre. The scripting gives a light-touch structure to the play, leaving opportunities for confident improvisation and audience participation throughout. Just be ready to join in by placing a bid in the ‘auction,’ bobbing along to the Macarena (and to cheer at the entertaining ‘slow mo’ and fast versions), and cheering on the special appearance by ‘the Spice Girls.’

Members of the Thursday preview audience were all delighted to listen, laugh, cheer and applaud throughout the performance—with a school student announcing during the post-show Q&A that ‘I wish I could stay here for ever.’ Congratulations to cast members James, Stephanie, Matthew, Caleb, Bridget, Rosie, Callum, Olivia, Sarah and Kevin, as I can’t imagine there are many professional shows that receive such enthusiastic and heartfelt reviews from members of their audiences!

My personal favourite moments of the show were James’ amusing weather report, the ‘service goldfish’ and WD40 adverts, the foley work to bring the horse to ‘life’ in the radio play, the Rainbow Wheels author interview, and the ‘Home to Me’ poem. The Blue Roo team always include a short cast Q&A, and its so good to be able to hear the thoughts of each of the cast members as they talk about the process of putting the show together, and the opportunities to gain paid mentoring experiences and to star in their own show.

The Blue Roo team is doing a great job to encourage audiences and participants to value diverse voices and lived experiences—and it was lovely to see several experienced members of the cast performing alongside a talented newbie. If you don’t get the opportunity to see their latest show, do also check out their excellent You Tube channel and social media for more.

Catherine Lawrence

**Picture**: Engaging with the audience. *Image Credit: Creative Futures Photography*

Audience Information: Three shows included a final dress and tech run performed exclusively for school groups plus two performances (13-14 November 2026), at the Queensland Multicultural Centre, 102 Main St, Kangaroo Point. Tickets $12-$15.50 plus booking fee. This production is suitable for wheelchair users, with wheelchair parking and accessible seating for wheelchairs. The production is signed by an Auslan interpreter. A quiet area is available at the venue and will be open throughout the performance. Assistance dogs welcomed and seating options provided. A tactile tour and audio description, suitable for visually impaired attendees, is available on request.

The reviewer attended the schools preview performance and Q&A, Thursday 12 November 2026 (12 noon).

Review: Radio Roo - Stories Unplugged

Geoff Lawrence