Jamberoo’s Diana McLaren in her happy place – oversharing on stage. Photo: Diana McLaren.
Cost of living got you down? Feel a bit weird, and not in a good way?
Illawarra comedian Diana McLaren’s latest show could be the warm hug you need – and it’s cheaper than therapy.
The talented performer recently returned home from Melbourne, and while the move didn’t stick it gave her plenty of new material to work with.
The inspiration for Diana McLaren is Defective struck in early June, and her first performance is Friday 28 June at Side Door Theatre as part of the Wollongong Comedy Festival.
“I’m living in my dad’s basement like a proper millennial, and figured as long as I’m back I might as well do my new hour show,” she said.
“I’ve been working on it for a year, but in classic ADHD style I decided at 3 pm one Friday I was going to actually do it and by 5 pm I had new headshots, a social media page and press release.
“These jokes aren’t for people who are looking around at society going, ‘This is perfect’.
“It’s for people who feel like society is going to hell in a handbasket, who have been told they’re the problem and they just need to suck it up and stop eating avocado toast.
“They’re my people, and this show is going to be a big comforting hug for those people.”
Diana’s comedy is open, raw and warm.
She has a wry take on herself and society, but said comedy gold comes from taking that cynicism and turning it into something uplifting.
“I want people to leave my show thinking the world is getting better, not that the world is getting worse,” she said.
“I grew up being told I was weird, I was broken, that there was something wrong with me – I didn’t know I had ADHD.
“In adulthood I’ve realised there is nothing wrong with me, I’m just working on a different operating system.
“I’ve put a lot of really personal stuff into the show and I think there is healing to be had from different ways of thinking about things, coping mechanisms and narratives that make it easier to function.
“It’s funny, and you’ll leave with a good taste in your mouth despite some bitter topics.”
Diana – who grew up between Kiama, New York and Sydney – currently lives in Jamberoo.
Regardless of where in the world she is, the stage is where Diana feels most at home.
Before her move to Melbourne she was one of the founders of She’ll Be Right Comedy, a regular Wollongong showcase for female comedians.
“She’ll Be Right has been running for six years now and was a joint project with Malika Rees until I moved,” Diana said.
“We just got sick of hearing bookers say there were not enough female comedians to have balanced shows.
“Every time I’m on stage I have the time of my life, that’s where I’m happy.
“There’s no greater silver lining in life than being in an awful situation and there’s a tiny part of my brain thinking ‘I can write a joke about this’.
“The audience participation is what makes stand-up comedy fun, but even if they weren’t there I’d still be having the chat; I’d just be a crazy person instead of a comedian.”
To get tickets to Diana McLaren is Defective at Side Door Theatre on Friday 28 June from 7pm, head to Diana McLaren – Diana McLaren is Defective (Wollongong Comedy Festival) | Humanitix
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