COMEDIAN ANDREW HAMILTON TO BRING PRISON STORIES TO KARRATHA

BY ASAD KHAN

First Pilbara Performance Set for September

Stand-up comedian Andrew Hamilton will perform in Karratha for the first time this month, bringing his acclaimed show Jokes About the Time I Went to Prison to the Tambrey on September 11.

Mr Hamilton said the Pilbara performance is shaping up to be his biggest yet, with more than 200 tickets sold for the 300-seat venue.

From Cellmates to Centre Stage

His comedy career began in an unlikely place—inside a maximum-security remand prison in Sydney. He was jailed after being arrested for selling magic mushrooms while at university. During his time behind bars, he started writing jokes and testing them on his cellmates.

“Comedy was the only thing I could see myself doing if I got another chance,”

Finding Humour in Hard Times

Since his release, Hamilton has performed hundreds of open-mic shows across the country, building his prison-inspired material into a full hour of comedy. He said the hardest part of the process was learning that not every joke lands with an audience.

“Sometimes people won’t laugh, and you have to work out if it’s the joke or the crowd,” he said.

“But by the end, you want an hour of nonstop laughter.”

Beyond the Laughs

Mr Hamilton stressed that the show is not only about comedy but also about resilience and second chances. He hopes to challenge stigma around incarceration and highlight that many people who end up in prison can rebuild their lives with support.

“I think a lot of people that go to jail aren’t necessarily evil,” he said.

“People can screw up, but if they’re given opportunities, they can come back and contribute to society.”

Tickets Selling Fast

His mix of comedy and reflection has resonated with diverse audiences, including people with direct experience of the justice system. He said that makes for unique and powerful nights where laughter and lived experience meet.
Tickets for the Karratha show are available at alist.com.au, with fewer than 100 remaining.

Listen to Ngaarda Media’s Asad Khan speak with Andrew Hamilton: