After a sold out season in 2011, Damien Power returns to the Brisbane Comedy Festival with his new show, ‘Monkeys In Space’.

Since his success last year, the Toowoomba-born comedian has supported international names James Kilstein and Jeff Green, as well as Australians Josh Thomas, Tom Gleeson and Fiona O'Loughlin. The winner of the Legends of Laughter Competition explains the primate theme behind his current show.

“The first monkey in space was supported and surrounded by this amazing technology that allowed him to do this incredible thing of floating above the Earth, it's just amazing, but all he did was masturbate, so that's kind of where we're at. There's a lot of stuff about society and politics and where we're at there, and just how far society's come but still how stupid we are even though we're so advanced.”

People should expect to see observations about society, politics and Damien's family throughout the ‘Monkeys In Space’ show. “I do have material that is more political in nature, and I have a two-year-old son. That kind of differentiates myself from other comics. Also, I do sound effects and impressions in my act so I think that's something that makes me different to other comedians as well.”

Damien's passion for comedy stems from his ‘inappropriate’ performances as a child at school.  “In primary school I used to do heaps of sketches for show and tell, and I got banned for being too inappropriate, and in high school I got detention for impersonating teachers. So I guess I always had a thing for performing.

“I was doing acting and theatre sports in my early twenties and I thought stand-up would be the next thing to do.”

The success of his first hour-long show, 'Driven', last year has shown Damien what an audience expects from a comedian. “You can't just do jokes for an hour. You need to vary your performance a bit and have different energy. People could be really enthusiastic at the start but then you have to keep their attention over quite a long time.”

This year Damien is performing in a larger venue at the BCF, the Rooftop Terrace, and hopes his improved material will translate to filling more seats.
“I think the show is much better than last year’s show, just because I've got more experience and my material is better and more interesting. So hopefully people will come up for it.”

However he knows the advantages and disadvantages of performing at a festival. “You get way less hecklers and less drunk idiots in festival shows where people come to a theatre to watch you. But I had one dude at one of my sellout shows get up in the middle of the show and tear one of my posters in half. It was really bizarre. I think he thought it was funny or something,”

To add to Damien's list of accomplishments, he has been selected to perform at the 2012 Melbourne International Comedy Festivals showcase.
“It's definitely the thing you want to do, what a lot of really famous comedians have done, so it's awesome. I'm going to be doing two shows down in Melbourne. I will literally be opening the showcase and then running upstairs to be in a comedy play, so that will be hectic.”

The comedy play is 'Got Dem Big City Dreams' by Skills In Time, a quartet of performers that allows Damien the opportunity to co-exist with other comedians.
“Every joke is democratically voted on. Whereas with stand-up you write it alone. Sure you bounce ideas around with other people, but you get up on your own... that's how you find out if you keep it or not.

“Working with other people is way less painful than the journey of a stand-up. The process is more enjoyable, whereas the process of generating good stand-up is long and painful.”

Damien Power performs at the Brisbane Comedy Festival February 28 until March 4.