Dear Diary is not so much a musical in the dramatic sense. There is just one voice and one guitar. And although there are props it is not really a play either. Nor is it a stand up comedy routine, though there are plenty of laughs. Rather it is that dream gig for a singer songwriter where an audience listens attentively for 70 mins to a set of your songs in which you tell a sequenced story, cleverly using some colourful props, and everyone goes home happy.

Kay Proudlove is clearing out her childhood bedroom, packing away dresses she no longer needs, when she discovers a diary from her adolescent years. With just a bit of gentle nudging Kay’s diary entries become the lyrics for songs that tell the story of her first adolescent yearnings in all their tenderness, and passion, with an obvious awkwardness which makes for some great comic moments. First loves, first celebrity crushes, teenage uncertainties, attempts to keep up with fashion. This has been done with great skill. The entries come to life and sound authentic and natural. Audience members will find many identifiable moments to smile at, especially those who were growing up in the 1990’s.

Kay Proudlove is a gifted songwriter and nuanced storyteller. Her voice has a mellow quality which makes it very listenable, and her acting skills and personality keep us fully engaged in her story.

Other singer songwriters who are looking for different ways to present their material are strongly encouraged to go along to see Dear Diary to see if it inspires new ideas or angles. For the rest of us, just go along and enjoy this show. Make sure to bring some friends with you so you can enjoy a great night debriefing your own teenage angst and uncertainties with some drinks at the bar afterwards.