EXCLUSIVE: Van Badham new associate of Old Fitz

Now one of the Sydney's most respected playwrights, Van Badham has been appointed as Associate Artist in charge of development for the Tamarama Rock Surfers theatre at the Old Fitzroy.

Returning to Australia only recently after a string of successes in the United Kingdom including a stint at the Royal Court Theatre, the position will see one of the most successful playwrights made accessible to local artists and developing theatre companies. It seems as though the Old Fitzroy is taking off where a bunch of theatres in Sydney have dropped the ball.

Her appointment is a double whammy for TRS which also launches their 2008 season tonight.

Included in this year's programme are:

- A re-mount of Al Dukes' Brilliant Monkey which opens on 19th March. You can read my review from their first showing HERE.

- The Packer by Dianna Fuemanam, a one-man show which has already toured to Edinburgh, Melbourne and Auckland.

- The Jinglists by Melbourne comedy duo Allsop and Henderson and directed by Ansuya Nathan who returns to the Old Fitz after receiving a Mike Walsh scholarship.

- Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Suzie Miller which will premiere at an off site venue that is yet to be announced. Any work that involves alternative spaces always gets my vote of approval. Take the theatre outta theatre I reckon!

- Poster Girl by the new resident associate Van Badham and directed by James Beach. It has Badham's usual worldly approach and this time she directs her focus on the role of the media. Bloody journalists!

- Citizen Corps by Melissa Bubnic and directed by recent NIDA grad Jessica Tuckwell. I just pray that Tuckwell is dealing with a better text than the one she directed recently.

- Leaves of Glass by Philip Ridley and directed by Pete Nettell. After seeing Ben Packer's Mercury Fur at The Stables last year, I can't wait to see this play from the same writer.

It sounds like an interesting season which has, as with all TRS seasons, the chance to either sink or soar. But that's the risk when you have a majority of new plays premiering.

I must admit to not knowing much about many of the people involved in this year's season, but hopefully that will all change over the course of the season.

The launch is tonight at Will & Toby's on Oxford Street from about 7.30 (I think).

Image: The Old Fitzroy Hotel, home to Tamarama Rock Surfers.