From crisis to comedy queen: How SA comedian Kalah Lovegrove found healing on stage

Comedian Kalah Lovegrove has always had a knack for making people laugh. But her journey to the stage is unlike any other.

Kalah Lovegrove in Murray Bridge, after escaping a DV relationship and starting a career as a comedian, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. Picture: Matt Loxton

As an Aboriginal and Christian, mum-of-four Kalah Lovegrove is far from your typical comedian.

Now gearing up for her first-ever Adelaide Fringe show, the award-winning comedian’s life is drastically different from when she started her comedy career last February.

After leaving a relationship two years ago, Ms Lovegrove and her children spent time in crisis accommodation before experiencing homelessness for three months after being unable to afford their private Murray Bridge rental.

During this time, they moved in with a family friend with Ms Lovegrove sharing a room with her two youngest children and their pet dog.

“It was way worse than the first time (I left my ex-partner) because the kids were older and it just gave us all this sense of feeling really disappointed and deflated,” she said.

“When you’re trying to raise four other human beings while also trying to secure housing and provide for them it’s really hard.”

Prior to leaving her marriage, she had been struggling mentally and spent “a lot of time” crying in her bedroom and isolating.

“I would still be cleaning and doing the mum stuff but I was such a mess and such a wreck that I didn’t go anywhere except for the shops and the school run,” she said.

Kalah Lovegrove in Murray Bridge, after starting a career as a comedian. Picture: Matt Loxton

Having always had a knack for making people laugh, comedy became an outlet for the 40-year-old who won both last year’s Deadly Funny SA State Final and Grand Final.

“Comedy was for me to honour my mum, my kids and God. The rush on stage after making people laugh is just amazing,” she said.

“Now I’m travelling on stage and meeting new people and having all these new experiences. It’s something that I never ever would’ve thought that I would be doing so it’s been amazing,” she said.

Now settled into a home on Country in Raukkan, she’s able to enjoy life with her children once again while chasing her comedy dreams.

“Our home environment is no longer toxic, it’s just happy,” she said.

“Of course we have our drama, there’s a lot of trauma so we still have our stuff that we’re working on but ultimately our house is full of joy and laughter.”

Her kids are a major source of inspiration for her comedy which often pokes fun at their Gen Alpha ways and is “100 per cent” family friendly, she said.

Gearing up for her debut solo Adelaide Fringe show in Murray Bridge on Thursday, she couldn’t be more excited.

“I have three sections in my show which are titled perseverance, resilience and encouragement ‘cause that’s my main story.

“Don’t give up as hard as it gets, don’t give up just keep fighting.”