Diana McLaren is bringing some of the best comedians from across the country to Kiama for a three-week run of shows dubbed Laughing with the Ladies. Photo: Diana McLaren, Ironbark Photography.
Three weeks of raw, unabashed comedy are being played out in Kiama, as the Kazador in Kiama and part of the Spiegeltent season.
If you didn’t understand half of that sentence, don’t be alarmed. The Kazador is a unique venue.
A spiegeltent (Dutch for “mirror tent”, from spiegel+tent) is a large travelling tent, constructed from wood and canvas and decorated with mirrors and stained glass, intended as an entertainment venue.
They were originally built in Belgium during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and Laughter House Entertainment constructed their own for the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
It was brought back to Australia and every November is set up in Kiama to bring high calibre performances of all kinds to the South Coast.
One of the offerings this year is Jamberoo comedian Diana McLaren’s ‘Laughing with the Ladies’, a series of three shows across three weeks featuring some of the best female comedians Australia has to offer.
“I didn’t want to just celebrate women in comedy, I wanted to create a female-centric space,” Diana said.
“For the longest time comedy was focused on what men found funny. Even when women first got into comedy the focus was on making men laugh rather than making women laugh.
“All of the comedians I’ve booked write to the female experience and are women I want to give supportive stage time to.
“When the performer is having a good time it makes a more interesting performance.”
While the material is written for the female gaze, men with a good sense of humour are welcome to come along.
Each night is organised around a style of comedy.
Week one features storytelling comedians, with Diana emceeing and Natanyah, Lolita LaLa and Jen Carnovale taking to the stage.
“Tanyah is a local little firecracker,” Diana said.
“She looks adorable and everything she says is filthy.
“Without giving away too much Lolita gets some audience participation going and it’s hilarious.
“Jen’s very relatable; her comedy is about what it’s like being a mum in her 30s and still doing standup.”
Diana said she was inspired by diversity on stage, and the opportunity to create something different.
Week two features comedians who are very off the cuff. Emceed by Sydney’s Freya Reviews, character comedian Tamara Campbell, famously known as Kiki Bittovabitsch will perform, unusually, as herself.
Local talent Malika will take to the stage, before the evening finishes up with headliner, award-winning writer and comedian Bec Melrose.
“Malika co-founded She’ll Be Right Comedy in Wollongong with me, she’s a feature of the Wollongong comedy scene and a fierce advocate,” Diana said.
“She’ll share stories and there’s a good chance she’ll bring the uke out for a bit of music.
“Bec has won RAW Comedy previously, she’s a regular on ABC Radio and TV, and an absolute powerhouse and we’re lucky she wanted to come and visit.”
The theme for week three is a little unusual. For performance buffs out there the entire evening will be a musical comedy, emceed by ‘joyfully chaotic’ burlesque and cabaret comedic queen Irene Nicola.
The line-up features Stephanie Broadbridge and her ukelele. Stephanie has performed at Just for Laughs, Splendour in the Grass, as well as the Sydney Comedy Festival Gala and Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow.
English rose Emma packs a punch with her husky vocals, honking accordion, and caustic wit.
To ensure the climax of the evening leaves everyone satisfied, Church of the Cliroti will round out the night with a special ceremony, fresh from their run at The Sydney Fringe.
“Irene is incredible, Stephanie is generously giving us a sneak peek at her full show that’s also featuring on the Kazador, and we were so lucky to get Emma while she’s here from the UK for the festival season,” Diana said.
“To wrap it up we have edutainment-based cabaret duo Church of the Clitori, focussed on female pleasure, the celebration of our bodies and acknowledgement of goddesses of old religions.
“It might not be everyone’s cup of tea but that’s OK, that’s not who we’re here for.
“We’re here for the people who want to see women on stage being awesome.”
The festival runs until 24 November. For tickets head to: Kiama Season | The Kazador 2024.
Loading ...
