Poster girl takes centre stage

BY MITCHELL JORDAN

Paris Hilton and terrorists were the inspiration for Sydney playwright Van Badham’s latest work, Poster Girl, which opens at the Old Fitzroy Theatre this week.
Badham is proud of the black comedy she wrote for the Australian National Playwright’s Festival in 2006; but more than that, she’s glad to receive some long overdue recognition from her own country.
Five years ago, Badham felt she had no choice but to pack her bags and leave Sydney for England in the hope of making a name for herself. Now, in the lead up to Poster Girl’s Australian debut, she feels a sense of accomplishment.
‘It’s good to be home and see that I have a supportive family amongst the theatre and audience,’ she said.
Poster Girl was inspired by the life of American heiress, Patty Hearst, and tells the story of Mindy Xyloine, a celebrity heiress who is kidnapped by a group of young left-wing terrorists.
‘After watching a documentary about Patty I stopped to think about what would happen if someone like Paris Hilton ‘ the Patty of today ‘ was put in a similar situation,’ Badham explained.
In 2005, Badham’s three-hour epic drama, Black Hands/Dead Section, which explored terrorism in 1970s Germany, won the Queensland Premier’s Award. By comparison, Poster Girl, is much breezier but she believes that ‘pop culture and its aesthetics are both entertaining and a good way of telling a story.’
Political violence fascinates Badham and it is subject matter that she feels has great comic potential.
‘My political plays are pink, sassy and neon,’ she said.
The question remains as to whether Badham’s future as a playwright lies in Australia or overseas. While she is uncertain of the answer, it is a situation that can only help her writing.
‘I have a perpetual outsider status from going between Australia and England,’ she said. ‘But it is a good position to be in because I can keep my observations sharp.’
Poster Girl opens June 11 at the Old Fitzroy Theatre, Woolloomooloo.