JUSTIN HAMILTON
Justin Hamilton has carved out a successful career as a stand up comedian, writer and producer while maintaining his unique voice within the Australian Comedy scene.
2024 has started with a bang as he appeared on The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, was again the head writer on Dancing with the Stars and set off on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival tour of North Queensland.
In 2023 Hammo’s new solo stand-up comedy show Little Victories receiving the Adelaide Fringe Weekly Comedy Award and the Barefoot Review stating the show is a “…a cyclone of beautifully crafted, hysterically funny anecdotes and observations…” and rewarding it a maximum 5 stars.
He also joined fellow comic Nikki Britton to perform at the 11th Busan International Comedy Festival in South Korea. Nikki and Hammo were the first two English speaking stand-up comedians to be booked for the BICF.
Hammo started his career in 1994 as one half of the musical comedy duo The Bunta Boys. They toured Australia and supported acts as diverse as Alexei Sayle, The Doug Anthony All-Stars, Judith Lucy and Powderfinger.
1999 saw Hammo launch his solo act and win numerous awards for his unique one-man shows.
Hammo was the producer and host of the legendary Melbourne comedy variety show The Shelf. Alongside the fabulous Adam Richard, they presented some of the best comedians from Australia and abroad including Wil Anderson, Hannah Gadsby, Rove McManus, Rich Hall, Celia Pacquola, Auntie Donna, Puddles Pity Party and Andy Zaltzman.
His first podcast, Can You Take This Photo Please? ran from 2010 - 2017 with guests that included Steve Carrell, Simon Pegg and Marc Maron.
His latest podcast Big Squid with Justin Hamilton spotlights new and emerging talent alongside high-profiled guests including Tom Gleeson, US comedian Dave Anthony and authors Rian Hughes and AW Hammond.
Hammo made a cameo in the Adam Goodes documentary The Australian Dream.
He was a creative consultant and appeared in the film Standing Up for Sunny alongside Breaking Bad’s RJ Mitte.
In 2020 he worked with Sacha Baron Cohen on his Uber Eats adverts and other projects.
2021 saw Hammo work as a producer and writer on the ABC’s Question Everything, The Chase and Dancing with the Stars while still finding time to be one of Australia’s premier stand up comedians.
Hammo returned to the top rating The Chase and Question Everything in 2022 while his podcast Big Squid was voted number 1 on Feedspot’s 20 Best Australian Pop Culture Podcasts. Guests included Award Winning documentary director Brett Morgen, New York Times best selling author Chris Herring and movie director Nicholas Stoller.
"Hamilton’s shows eschew traditional structures and standard subject matter. His work consistently challenges his audiences, asking important questions about history, truth, death and identity. It reveals a razor-sharp intellect and fearless questing heart. His humour is dangerous, offering perspectives that can be frightening in scope and intent."
The Arts Monthly, Tim Ferguson
“Hamilton resists the easy laugh lines that are the staple of stand-up and that are instantly forgotten. Instead, the show is memorably, blisteringly funny, and poignant at times."
The Australian, Penny Durham
“An unforgettable performance... his jokes are intelligent, witty and very entertaining. You should not miss this. Absolute stand out. 5 stars.” Adelaide Advertiser
"It's an intelligent, crafted work from a man whose deft use of stage and microphone create a multi-layered experience with an array of colourful characters…a masterpiece of modern angst."
The Herald Sun
AWARDS
2007 Melbourne Comedy Festival’s Director’s Award for Three Colours Hammo.
2008 Adelaide Advertiser Award Best Comedy Show for Three Colours Hammo.
2008 Melbourne Comedy Festival Best Show Nomination for The Killing Joke.
2011 Equity Award Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for The Librarians.
2019 Adelaide Fringe Best Comedy Show for The Ballad of John Tilt Animus
2023 Adelaide Fringe Best Comedy Show Weekly Award for Little Victories
For a look at his full bio please click here.