He may be known as the enfant terrible of the Canberra arts scene, but Jorian Gardner is hoping some locals have grown up a bit in the past four years.
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That is how long it has been since he last directed the Fringe Festival, when a certain burlesque show ruffled a few community feathers in Civic Square.
Both he and the risque cabaret night are back this year, with a promise to titillate and stay within the festival's budget this time.
Mr Gardner said the 2014 Fringe Festival, which is on next month as part of the National Multicultural Festival, would have many elements of previous events, including theatre, live bands and the much-anticipated burlesque night.
"I think that in four years there has probably been more acceptance of the art form from around the place," he said.
"I think also people have the idea now that it's not just stripping.
''I think most of the protesters, if you look back, you'll find half of them weren't even at the event.
''They were just haters of public fun and a bit of naughtiness in public and they didn't like it associated with the Multicultural Festival, even though we were clearly identified as 'the fringe'."
He said this time he would need to spend only a fraction of the amount on performers, as most of them were local.
"Last time I imported a lot of performers from interstate, and this time, thankfully, I don't have to do that … I've got my pick of performers of burlesque girls and guys, magicians, comedians and stuff from Canberra," he said.
"The art form has evolved and there are more companies. Last time we did this, there were only one or two major producers and girls - mainly girls - doing stuff, but there are independent production companies that have just popped up."
Most people realised that the art form was more than just about nudity and naughtiness, he said.
"Five years ago, a girl pouring milk all over herself would have just been performance art at a bad gallery in Sydney," he said.
"Now it's funny and put on a stage, and people really get the hilarity of it. It's less about the flesh and more about the comedy."
Popular local variety act In Canberra Tonight will be opening the festival on the Thursday, as well as a specially commissioned work by local composer Cameron Smith that will feature a brass section, dance and spoken word.
The Saturday night's focus is on the spoken word, with a poetry slam and a stand-up comedy show, which will include a competition solely for hecklers.
The festival will also feature a theatre performance inside Canberra Museum and Gallery, several live bands and a day-long children's program on the Saturday.
The Canberra Fringe Festival is on in Civic Square from February 6-9.
