Werewolf by Australian writer and activist Van Badham is a darkly comic and socially poignant political thriller that takes aim at the rise of extremism and conspiracy theories in contemporary Australia. It’s currently playing at The Arts Centre Melbourne, until 26 October, as part of this year’s Fringe Festival.
Van Badham writes in the program for Werewolf that when she was writing her bestselling book QAnon And On: A Short and Shocking History of Internet Conspiracy Cults she made many discoveries about modern extremists that seemed too crazy to even include.
One of these was the story of a “white power wolf cult” that gathers in the mountains for sacred fasctist rites. While this only got a few sentences in the book, she felt there was more to be told, and so the idea for the play was born.
The plot centres on a fascist speaking tour that’s about to begin in Melbourne, and explores the collision between the far right and the far left as tensions escalate towards violence, blending a satirical look at the manipulation of information with the tropes from traditional horror films.
With a cast comprising of Ben Walter, Alexandra Aldrich, Simon Corfield, Eddie Orton and Michelle Perera, the play critiques both the far right and the left wing in Australia through its dark, satirical lens. It explores how young, frustrated leftists, like the character Nathan, can become disillusioned by mainstream political tactics, making them just as susceptible to radicalisation from extremist forces, while also examining the rise of neo-fascism in Australia.
The plot aligns with the “horseshoe theory” that suggests that political extremism at both ends of the spectrum are never that far apart and begin to resemble each other in their methods and authoritarianism, despite their ideological differences.
Under Gary Abrahams’ direction, Werewolf is a raw, chaotic production that amplifies the disordered nature of contemporary politics and the digital age.
The play is irreverent, shocking, and at times absurd, all while maintaining a dark humor that offsets its heavier themes. The set design and aesthetic add to its intensity, creating a punk-like atmosphere that reflects the instability and excesses of the internet age in what has rapidly become a post-truth era.
Tickets are available here.