MATES Theatre Genesis actor Diana Gogulski found walking the boards an antidote to depression in 2016 and has been on the up and up ever since.
“Theatre has been the best medicine and has brought me back to my happy place,” Diana said.
The move to theatre was a recommendation at the time by her psychologist and Diana was lucky enough to land her first role at her first audition.
She describes her childhood as “feral”, shaped by bullying, abuse, and an absent, low-income, single mother.
“We never had shoes or lunch at school, and I didn’t discover fresh vegetables until I was an adult,” she said.
Homeless at age 12 and placed in foster care at 14, she grew up without attending high school.
Nevertheless, she developed a strong work ethic sewing at a factory, working as a car washer and selling vacuum cleaners. She also danced professionally.
“I embraced any and every opportunity to support myself,” she said.
She later qualified as a primary school teacher and discovered physical movement and drama were invaluable tools to reinforce learning with her students.
Despite her many achievements, Diana said mental health challenges remained a constant companion.
“Acting has kept my mind active, so there’s less space for negative thoughts,” she said.
As well as performing, theatre has also been an outlet for her creativity. Her flair has transformed discarded materials into intricate stage props, including an harissa cake made from a memory foam pillow, fairy floss crafted from pillow wadding and chalk powder, and potatoes fashioned from old stockings.
Over the past nine years, she has participated in more than 15 community theatre productions. She is curently rehearsing for MATES Theatre Genesis’s production of The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race by Melanie Tait.
Inspired by a true story, The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race is an Australian comedy. Dr Penny Anderson returns to her rural hometown of Appleton to discover a gender disparity in prize money for the annual potato race – $1000 for men versus $200 for women. Outraged, he launches a spirited campaign to bring equality to the show.
MATES performs The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race at the Donald Simpson Community Centre, Cleveland, from January 24 to February 1. Shows are at 7.30pm on January 24, 30 and 31 and February 1 and 10am and 2pm on January 26.
Tickets are adults $25, concession $20 and children and students $15 on matestg.org.au.
