Diary of a (teenage) Diva!

April has gone very Jilly Cooper, complete with clay pigeon shooting, point to point racing and indecent proposals. Penny has been invited to her first formal event AND set up with a long time crush, but with no Fairy Godmother in sight has to make her own dress. Will the blue taffeta and black gloves be enough to impress Prince Charming? Read with fellow diarist, journalist and actor Sarah McNeil...

Fashion reaches a new low with white suspender belts and the Fergie Bow, as Penny meets some proper Hooray Henrys, OK yah? As Lent approaches Penny attempts to give up something that remains, to this day, very dear to her heart. How long will she last? Joined for Rocky Horror, The Pyjama Game and numerous scandals by current teenage diva, Lexie, and her mum Nichola. Follow me on Instagram @diary_o...

The 80s are in full swing with Filofaxes, ballgowns, naughty knickers and knobbly knees. Rehearsals continue for the Musical Marathon and the big question is will Penny, now 16, FINALLY get a Valentine’s Card?? Read in a steamy hotel room in Manhattan with Aussie rock chick and recorder enthusiast Kaylie Stansfield. Start spreading the news…. Follow me on Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_podcast, Facebo...

After a long hiatus we are back with 1987. A painful start to the year for Penny as broken bones, rough seas, exams, snow drifts and the casting of The Pyjama Game all conspire to make January a difficult month. Read with Penny's favourite Uncle on a sunny, summer balcony in the Welsh borders.  Follow on Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_podcast

September 1986, and Jesus Christ Superstar is over but its legacy remains. Forget Jesus and Mary, the real stars the show, Penny ("First Leper") and Lucy ("Maid by the Fire") discuss the SCANDAL. Will Lucy's letter reveal the details of just what went in in the bathroom with Ziggy ("Hot Dancer")? And who has naughty Neil ("Pilate") been kissing this time??  Follow me on Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_...

One of many letters discovered on a trip to the UK - a tiny snippet of the other side of the romantic rollercoaster that was October 1985. Written late on a Sunday night by teenage Neil (pictured) and received by Penny shortly before her 15th birthday. Read by Jasmin Ellmer with asides from my son, Finn Pearson, and Lilly Stent. All confused Gen-Zs.  Follow me on Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_podcast...

December is filled with drama as a party at Marie's gets out of hand, disaster strikes A Midsummer Night's Dream and Penny has to address some rumours at the Pony Club Disco.  Read backstage at His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, with fellow soprano Emma during West Australian Opera's, The Pirates of Penzance. Follow me on Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_podcast, Facebook @diaryofadivapodcast. Original music...

November brings more angst as no-one tells Penny her singing sounds good and she makes an unwise choice for the St. Kate’s Day Balloon Debate. Subjects up for discussion range from The Rocky Horror Show and Shakespeare to contraception, magic mushrooms and chocolate digestives. Recorded in noisy South Fremantle with new friend and pianist extraordinaire Robert Graham.  Follow me on Instagram @diar...

Penny heads towards her 16th birthday exhausted, ‘sex-starved’ and a bit depressed. St. Helen's school holds a beauty contest, the speculation continues about the ideal way to lose your virginity and Penny has a near death experience in Wales. Read with Brendon "Brighton Boy" Ellmer. Follow me on Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_podcast, Facebook @diaryofadivapodcast. Original music by Finn Pearson.   ...

In this episode I am reading my favourite poem of 1986, John Keats epic, The Eve of St Agnes and the story of how the lovely Madeline 'loses it'. Agnes herself was a 12 year old girl from a wealthy Roman family and, when she refused to marry any of her many suitors (girls can be so picky!) she was killed, oops, I mean martyred. She became the patron saint of virgins and sometime later it became a...

September brings the end of Jesus Christ Superstar, the beginning of the 'big, bad Fifth Form', and the trials of old age! Penny sees her first full frontal naked man (never to be forgotten!) and there are some questionable fund-raising activities at the Village Show. No guests this month, it’s just you and me. How intimate!  Follow me on Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_podcast, Facebook @diaryofadivap...

Back from camping Penny throws herself back into home activities, rehearsals for Jesus Christ Superstar, riding, and going to the pub. Some unsolicited style advice from London's trendy Kings Road has a lasting effect and listen out for some foreshadowing, references to important characters in Penny’s future love life! My guest is the brainy and glamourous Lilly Stent who brings some valuable Gen-...

The French holiday continues and Penny and Hilary are 'on the rampage' once again, no-one is safe! The lake by the campsite appears to be the place to be, but will the girls kiss the right kind of frogs? Neighbour Matt Coomber is this month's guest but only made it to the end of the holiday...more of August to come!  Follow me on Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_podcast, Facebook @diaryofadivapodcast. O...

Penny and partner in crime, Hilary, head off on the hovercraft for a camping trip ‘on the Continent’. The girls practice their French, everything from language to kissing and guest, diva extraordinaire Elisa Wilson, provides hilarious insight about her own, quite contrasting holidays growing up in Western Australia.  Follow me on Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_podcast, Facebook @diaryofadivapodcast. O...

Brother Chris and Bestie Ruth are guests for the latest flurry of drunken summer escapades, and Lloyd-Webber musicals where it's all hugs, kisses and back stabbing! Do siblings still know how to annoy each other, even in their 50s? And where are Penny’s loyalties when she finally meets, Ruth’s big crush? Recorded in an English spring garden complete with noisy songbirds and panting dogs. For photo...

Penny enjoys getting manhandled at the Abingdon School Fete, sets her sights on her Dad's boss's (rich!) son and takes her very first O-level. Things get meta when she find her 1984 diary and finds it 'hilarious'. Cabaret Artist and guest Brendan Hanson (pictured) reveals his early musical tastes, his love of a frosted mullet and an extremely loud laugh!  For photos from the era follow me on Insta...

Radioactive strawberries, creepy anonymous letters and a futurist fashion show...but mostly May is about scandal! As previously suspected, 15 proves to be a dangerous age for nice young ladies.  Recorded with fellow cabaret artist, journalist and fashionista Glynis Traill-Nash. Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_podcast, Facebook @diaryofadivapodcast for more content and photos from the era! Original musi...

Disastrous Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, toad rescue, and unsupportive parents all conspire to distract Penny as she obsessively prepares for her all important audition for Jesus Christ Superstar. Read with musician and cabaret collaborator Joe Louis Robinson at home in South Freo.  Follow me on Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_podcast, Facebook @diaryofadivapodcast. Original music by Finn Pearson. 

Finally some genuine teenage angst as Penny realises her 'main character energy' is on the wane, she never gets the parts she auditions for and unrequited love rears its ugly head. Penny and old school pal Marie, revert to their worst teenage selves, have one too many drinks and giggle. You have been warned.  March 1986 is dedicated to the memory of Rebecca Martin. Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_podca...

February! The winter weather is too cold to play lax but perfect for tobogganing, gliding and gossiping as school goes a bit 'Meangirls'. We find out how girls learnt to French Kiss in the 80s; (it’s not what you think!) and for the first time some names have been bleeped out to protect the guilty. If you know you know… Recorded with legendary musician Bourby Webster, on a boiling hot day in ‘Woop...

Series 3! Penny is joined by her long suffering Mother and her own teenager; 15 years and 3 months at the time of recording, exactly the same as Penny in January 1986. What could possibly go wrong? Recorded in noisy rural Oxfordshire, complete with passing helicopters, squeaky shoes and bonking fish. Recollections may vary. Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_podcast, Facebook @diaryofadivapodcast for more...

Christmas Parties are the perfect hunting ground for Penny and her friends, so many boys to G.O.W, but who’s keeping count? That’s right…everyone. Join Penny and musical theatre star Morgan for the season finale, recorded at the Quarry Amphitheatre, with a little surprise at the end, Penny on vocals, Finn on guitar. Enjoy! Follow me on Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_podcast, Facebook @diaryofadivapodc...

Penny flies to the UK and persuades Tracey, her old rival, to be November’s guest! So many questions in this episode. Will Neil ever call? Does God exist? Who will lose their virginity first? Penny stars in her first ever opera, The Trappisberg Murders, and there is a cameo appearance from Penny’s future husband, Jack. CONTENT WARNING - much giggling.  Follow me on Instagram @diary_of_a_diva_podca...

Penny turns 15 and gets her first heady taste of being a groupie as she watches Neil’s band play at the “Harvest Piss Up”. The phone, shared between all the family, won’t stop ringing and is triggering Penny’s PMT making her hate everyone. Worried she is in the friend zone she tries to convince Neil that she is not like other girls…will her plan work? Read with Sass, friend of the pod and easily e...

ABC Radio’s Drive Program host, Geoff Hutchison, is Penny’s guest for September; as Embryo Youth Theatre’s performance of Pirates of Penzance continues and show-business tightens its grip on our diva-in-waiting! School recommences, opera rehearsals begin and despite having ‘nothing to prove’ Penny is determined to get off with someone, anyone, as soon as possible. Recorded at home, any attempt to...