Fresh out of NIDA and already gaining acclaim in Sydney’s theatre scene, playwright Kate Bubalo’s [YOUR NAME] pays homage to the weird, fantastical, joyful experience that is teenage girlhood.

The Griffin Award shortlister told Toasting Aussie Theatre all about the show, her development as a playwright, and her very fitting wine pairing.

What has been your journey into theatre ?

I started out in University Revues, which provided me with a great crash course in writing for performance. I had to pitch an idea, write it in 20 minutes and then perform it as soon as it was finished. You got your feedback straight away and often your sketch was given to someone else to edit. It cultivated a very collaborative and energetic spirit in my writing. I learnt to find great pleasure in killing my darlings and getting straight to the point. In 2022/2023, I pursued an MFA at NIDA, where I wrote [YOUR NAME]. It was excruciatingly painful to write. I was so used to short form writing, relying on caricatures rather than characters to get my point across. A lot of the theatre I had encountered and admired emphasized poetry, meaning, and naturalism. I thought that was what I had to write in order to count as a playwright. However, I learned to find a kind of middleground between the two. Caricatures and jokes can be helpful as a shorthand for audiences to get deeper into the story you are trying to tell. Where your characters diverge from caricature is also where you can find a lot of surprise, delight, and maybe even poetry.

Tell me about your experience of developing [YOUR NAME]?

I was incredibly lucky with [YOUR NAME]. This play was my major project for my Masters, and I had a whole year to write it. I received multiple feedback sessions from very smart and talented individuals, as well as a lot of resources and guidance. I could not have asked for a better situation in which to write my first play. I was very grateful that I had a lot of room to fail, it really helped me push the play to where it needed to be. I was also lucky to have a reading hosted by Purple Tape, where more talented and smart people brought the words to life. The luckiest moment came when [YOUR NAME] was shortlisted for the Griffin Award. Writing your first play is daunting, it’s hard to know if you’re on the right track. I am grateful for the recognition and encouragement that Griffin Theatre Company gave me at such an early stage of my writing career.

The most rewarding part of [YOUR NAME] development thus far has been observing the rehearsals. Lily, Evelina, Lola, Georgia, and Andrew have all breathed life into the words in ways I never imagined. It has been an absolute privilege to witness their work in the rehearsal room over the past few weeks. Thanks to these hilarious geniuses, my dirty washing basket is filled to the brim with undies that have a bit of wee in them from laughing so hard. Not to mention the amazing design and backstage work of Tyler, Hannah, Shondelle, Clare, Rita and Hailley. They have all gone above and beyond to bring my sick and twisted thoughts to reality. God help us all!

What is the one message every person who sees [YOUR NAME] should take with them out of the theatre?

Look, there are a few ~conceptual~ things going on with [Your Name], that I hope audiences will discuss when they leave. Questions about the sexuality and sexualisation of teenage girls, the importance of fantasy in our lives, how stories can have a life of their own and the dangers/delights of the internet.
However, if there is one take home that I want everyone to have is: be a freak!

What do you enjoy about the Aussie theatre scene, and what needs to change?

It is really nice to be a part of a very passionate and hard working scene. Everyone tends to be quite earnest and welcoming, which I think shouldn’t be taken for granted. 

I think we need to take being silly, seriously. I am guilty of this also, but I find that we often talk about comedies and farces like they’re just a fun night out. There’s a lot of skill and artistry to being silly.

What type of wine would you pair with Show, and why?

Fruity Lexia (makes you sexier!)

[YOUR NAME] is on at KXT on Broadway 14-19 June. Purchase tickets here.