Entertainment
15 November, 2024
Comedy changed prisoner’s life
MELBOURNE comedian Andrew Hamilton is coming to Macalister Brewery with a healthy dose of politically incorrect comedy about his experience in jail for drug dealing and how stand-up comedy changed his life.
Hot off the heels of sell-out shows at Melbourne and his award nomination at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival as best newcomer, Mr Hamilton is taking his first solo regional tour and is coming to Macalister Brewery on November 16 with his unique brand of humour.
In 2021, Andrew Hamilton spent four months in two of Sydney’s maximum-security prisons for the supply of psychedelic drugs. He had a great time.
While incarcerated, he began noticing the transportive power of laughter. Upon his release, the emerging funny guy tried his luck at stand-up, initially under strict bail conditions – escorted by his parents to ensure he was home in time for curfew.
“My humour is all about the fact that I sold psychedelic drugs – mainly magic mushrooms – for about 15 years and then I got arrested and went to prison for it,” he said.
“There I discovered comedy and that’s when I started writing jokes, so when I got out I started doing stand up and that totally changed my life.
“My comedy is a mix between storytelling elements, some really colourful jokes about the police raiding my house, lots of one-liners and those jokes that tell stories, a mix of everything.”
Hamilton’s success includes an award nomination for Melbourne International Comedy Festival Best Newcomer (2023) and packed houses at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (2024) and Sydney Comedy Festival (2024) for his show, Jokes About the Time I went to Prison and follow up tour, Shit Bloke. He’s also released an autobiography this year ‘Profound benefits of a stint in prison’ which will be available on the tour.
“If you like politically incorrect jokes, if you think that a story of a guy going to jail for dealing mushrooms and discovering comedy sounds like something you’d find amusing, I’m sure you’ll have a good time,” Mr Hamilton said.
“The show also finishes with a sincere part where I discuss how important comedy has been in changing my life and how I think the power of laughter is such an important thing for many people,” he said.
To buy tickets, visit
