Just ahead of the premiere of her first solo show at The Kazador on Thursday, homegrown comedian Diana McLaren has been presented with a Creative Spirit Scholarship from the International Women’s Day Illawarra Committee.

“I first heard about the award back on International Women’s Day in March, but nothing beats the thrill of being able to accept it on stage in front of 1000 people,” she says.

Each year, the Committee awards seven individual scholarships of $2,000 each to encourage women in our region, who might not otherwise have the opportunity, to expand their knowledge, skill and experience in a field of their interest or in which they have shown great potential.

This is only the second year the Creative Spirit Scholarship has been awarded, and it is believed to have attracted the most number of applications.

Diana has put her scholarship towards putting her first solo show, called Delicious, back on track after it was rudely interrupted by COVID.

Diana with her award

After a couple of years working as a stand-up comedian, Diana was getting ready to do her first solo show and take the world by storm when COVID changed the landscape of performing arts forever. The business she had developed running five Illawarra comedy rooms, Cocoa & Butter Productions, immediately went into freefall as the industry collapsed. Only three of the rooms survived the storm: Sweet As Comedy Open Mic, She’ll Be Right Variety nights and Not Bad Comedy.

However, Diana says that in some ways COVID was the least of her problems.

“I was also navigating my parents’ divorce, a parent’s ill health, had to move from home, and to top it all off my car was stolen and then its replacement was rear ended.”

Known as the queen of oversharing, Diana’s full length show definitely won’t be family friendly but promises to be well worth the watch if you like your comedy equal parts relatable and dirty. 

“Diana tells stories of love and life and sex with an insightful honesty and complete lack of shame that will have you laughing till you cry,” says The Kazador’s Tamara Campbell.

Diana is planning on leveraging off the opportunity created by The Kazador project to polish her show and then take it to Sydney and Melbourne. 

The Kazador's season closes on Thursday, with a performance by accomplished stand-up comedian, actor, writer and film director, Gary Eck.

Delicious is on at The Kazador on Wednesday 25 May, 7.30pm.

Buy tickets for the show at www.thekazador.com

Use your Discover voucher before they run out in June!