Courteney Hocking fell in love with a boy who was an inventor. What’s a girl to do? Apparently read up on all things inventor-ish and make a comedy festival show all about it.

Hocking was a Victorian Raw Comedy Finalist in 2001, part of Comedy Zone in 2002 and performed her first solo show at Melbourne Fringe Festival 2005. When she set out to write her first hour long solo show, Hocking had clear aims in mind. ‘I wanted to create a show that had a really strong structure, an involving story that held the show together.’ While stringing together an hour’s worth of jokes can be difficult, it’s just as hard to weave a story, impart information and keep your audience laughing all the way. ‘Those are the shows I like, and I wanted to get the audience involved in a narrative.’

Directed by Lawrence Leung (2001 Melbourne Fringe Festival best solo-show award winner), the show is an exploration of the crazy inventions people come up with. ‘I learnt so much doing this show. Everything we have, everything that has been made around us has been invented by someone,’ explains Hocking. But for every good idea there are ample strange ones, which give her plenty to explore and share with her audience. Leung’s direction, along with the odd piece of advice from fellow comics and family members, have helped Hocking to create a show that she is looking forward to continuing to perform as the festival unfolds. ‘There is always room for improvement when you have a month long season. I can go out every night and look for ways to make it better.’ Where once she was protective of her work, now she is open to the advice. ‘After taking a break from performing for a while, I’m more objective, more able to hear opinions on what I could do to improve the show.’

The break, a short stint off-stage, gave Hocking the perspective she needed to get back into writing and performing. ‘I knew this was what I really wanted to be doing.’ Presenting a radio show with Leung and Andrew McClelland, getting back into stand-up and now Melbourne International Comedy Festival has been a welcome return to performing. With a strong opening weekend behind her already, it’s shaping up to be a great season for Hocking. The show has had great crowds, is being received well by audiences, and things can only get better.