AustLit logo
Vanessa Badham Vanessa Badham i(A7111 works by) (a.k.a. Van Badham)
Born: Established: 1978 Sydney, New South Wales, ;
Gender: Female
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

BiographyHistory

Vanessa Badham has worked as 'an art gallery attendant, principal boy, pole-juggler, transcriptionist, speaking coach, accounts clerk, comic-book writer, dancing fairy and President of the National Union of Students. None of these jobs have qualified her for a career in retail, but they have all contributed to the black and malevolent humour of her dramatic work.' Badham's plays have been performed throughout Australia and in the UK and range in theme across a variety of political and social issues.

Badham has been playwright-in-residence with Company Theatre Physical and with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She has also taught creative writing at the University of Wollongong.

(Source: Webs We Weave website, http://www.websweweave.org/cgi-bin/w_vanessa.asp)

Most Referenced Works

Personal Awards

2022 longlisted Walkley Award Best Non-Fiction Book for 'QAnon and On'.
2022 longlisted Mark and Evette Moran Nib Award for Literature for 'Q Anon & On: A Short and Shocking History of Internet Consporacy Cults'.
2009 finalist NSW Philip Parsons Fellowship for Emerging Playwrights

Awards for Works

Animal Farm 2020 single work drama

'Manor Farm is in a state of rebellion as a gang of pigs unite to overthrow their cruel human oppressor.

'Written in the 1940s by George Orwell as a response to the rise of authoritarian governments, Animal Farm is a timeless examination of extremist rule. This new adaptation continues to caution with the universal message that power can corrupt – and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

'Adapted by political powerhouse Van Badham (Banging Denmark, Q&A, The Drum and writer at The Guardian), this high-octane three-hander features a cast of stellar comedians, improvisers and storytellers. They bring to life a farmyard of characters including the hardworking Boxer and power-hungry Napoleon. This is a biting political satire that will make you grunt.'

Source: Black Swan Theatre Company.

2022 nominated AWGIE Awards Stage Award Adapted
y separately published work icon Banging Denmark Kensington : NewSouth Publishing , 2019 16673397 2019 single work drama

'Ish Madigan is a feminist academic writing a thesis on computer games. Jake Newhouse is a full-time management consultant and part-time pickup artist. They’re not exactly best friends.

'But when Jake’s latest crush – a brilliant Danish librarian – doesn’t respond to his usual seduction techniques, he knows he needs help. Jake asks Ish to coach him in feminist-friendly flirtation. He’ll pay. And Ish needs the money.

'So, what’s stopping her? Oh, you know, just ethics, morals and every fibre of her being.

'From the pen of Australian playwright and social commentator Van Badham comes this hilariously explicit new comedy. Banging Denmark is a swinging satire on the men who claim to understand the ‘female mind’ and the online culture that inspires them.'

Source: Sydney Theatre Company.

2020 shortlisted New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting
y separately published work icon The Bull, The Moon and the Coronet of Stars 2013 Strawberry Hills : Currency Press , 2013 5989749 2013 single work drama

'Alone in the museum, in the dark, Marion unravels a ball of string so Michael can venture into a mystery. In recent weeks, strange stirrings have haunted the ancient relics and rumours of a monster abound. Michael finds his way back to her and to an impossible situation.

'Marion flees and finds herself the prim centre of an over-sexed septuagenarian art group at a seaside resort. Here, Marion is infuriated by Mark, a wayward sommelier with an eye for the ladies, determined to disrupt her lessons and her life.

'Whimsical, sensual and charmingly humorous, 'The Bull, the Moon and the Coronet of Stars' is a love story of mythic proportions. It will lure you into an orgy of antiquity, cupcakes and beachside frivolity.

'Award-winning playwright Van Badham is joined by Griffin Associate Director Lee Lewis ('Silent Disco', 'A Hoax') for this delightfully debaucherous fairytale for adults.'

Source: Griffin Theatre Company.

2014 winner Western Australian Premier's Book Awards Scripts
Last amended 1 Dec 2009 15:04:15
Other mentions of "" in AustLit:
    X