Stand-up comedian who turned four months in maximum-security prison into critically acclaimed sold-out shows
Andrew Hamilton took up stand-up comedy in 2021 after serving four months in two of Sydney's maximum-security prisons for the commercial supply of psychedelic drugs. While incarcerated, he began noticing the transportive power of laughter — if a joke can make you forget you're in prison, he reasoned, what else can it do? Upon release, he started performing under strict bail conditions: his parents had to accompany him to shows and he had to be home by curfew.
A year later, Hamilton performed his debut solo show, Jokes About the Time I Went to Prison, at the 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, earning critical acclaim and a nomination for Best Newcomer. His follow-up hour, Shit Bloke, sold out festival shows in 2024, and he embarked on his first solo headline tour that year — performing to packed rooms across Australia. The tour aligned with the release of his autobiography, The Profound Benefits of a Stint in Prison (Affirm Press). His viral online appearances have attracted over a billion views, initially through the YouTube channel YeahMadTV and now with The OG Crew.
Hamilton's appeal lies in a story that is genuinely unlike any other on the Australian comedy circuit — and in an ability to make that story hilarious rather than merely interesting. ArtsHub awarded him five stars, calling it 'a compelling and utterly hysterical night of comedy'. The Age gave four stars and praised his 'knack for a ripping anecdote'. He suits events that welcome bold, confessional storytelling and audiences prepared to laugh at something they did not see coming.
Andrew Hamilton is an entertainer based in New South Wales. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
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