Part musical, part comedy, and largely excellent storytelling, Dear Diary is a witty and delightful one-woman show.

Adolescence is hard. We’ve all been there, and many of us will have no desire to return. But, in Dear Diary, Kay Proudlove does, revisiting her teenage experiences and emotions through the entries of her old diary. The use of these diary entries to inspire story, comedy, and song brings an infallible and engaging authenticity to Kay’s performance. Through nostalgia and an easy relationship that forms between Kay and the audience, memories come alive and reveal how much of our present can be affected by our past experiences and emotions.

Projection is used effectively to support comedic moments. We see snippets of the diary and are delighted by the honest offerings of real life. Using verbatim diary entries as original song lyrics is effective in the same manner. Firsthand, we see the musical skill that Kay has grown up honing, appreciating and celebrating how despite the challenges explored in the narrative, this skill is being used here and now. Each song is unique and developed, and many are equally assured and funny. The Elijah Wood song is a particular hit…!

Kay balances humour and sincerity well, using one to support the other. Her storytelling is clear and engaging from the first mention of tinned beetroot to the story’s conclusion. Dialogue is filled with stand-up-esque comments that deserve belly laughs, and varied emotions are navigated maturely. The combination of mediums and emotions explored encourages the audience to reflect on matters of growing up that can often be difficult to consider.

By combining a variety of mediums and so effectively exploring multiple strands of narrative, Dear Diary is a platter of entertainment that many can enjoy.