Melbourne Comedy Festival’s opening night is rocked by ‘horrific and distressing’ tragedy mid-way through a live show forcing the event to be cancelled

By MAX ALDRED FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 12:34 GMT, 26 March 2025 | Updated: 12:59 GMT, 26 March 2025

A patron attending the first night of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival has tragically died during the opening show.

Ambulances were seen outside the Palais Theatre in St Kilda on Wednesday night after the Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow was abruptly cancelled mid-show due to a medical emergency in the venue’s upper level.

It’s understood a man suffered a suspected heart attack on early during the show.

Police confirmed the man, who’s yet to be formally identified, couldn’t be revived and died at the scene.

Patrons were informed the show would not continue during the unfolding medical emergency.

‘The show was stopped and cancelled. The festival will be in touch with all ticket holders tomorrow,’ organisers posted online.

Emergency services were called to the venue after patrons alerted ushers to the incident.

One attendee told Daily Mail Australia the situation was ‘very distressing’ and that members of the public initially provided CPR in the dark as headline act Michael Hing continued his performance, unaware of the medical emergency.

The opening night of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival ended mid-show after a patron suffered a suspected heart attack and died

Comedian Michael Hing (above) hosted the festival which featured ‘a star-studded line-up’

‘[It] would have been at least 15 mins worth before the show stopping, and [it] only stopped as patrons yelled to stop performing,’ the patron said.

Another attendee claimed that the show continued even after paramedics arrived.

‘People started to get up and leave. I saw people in tears and comforting each other,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.

‘No one was laughing for paying real attention to the stage, maybe only to see if someone would come out and stop the show.

‘It was only when a few people, who were leaving, got up and were loudly talking or arguing with a staff member before leaning over and shouting at the comedian on stage to stop the show that anything happened.’

Victoria Ambulance and Melbourne International Comedy Festival were contacted for comment. 

The ‘Supershow’ marked the start of the four-week festival, a major event in the Melbourne entertainment calendar.

The festival attracts ‘a star-studded line-up featuring comedy royalty from around the globe’, this year hosted by comedian Michael Hing. 

Well-known comedians took to social media to share their shock and sadness.

‘All performers thoughts are with the family affected,’ Dave Hughes said.  

Tahir Bilgiç added: ‘Sad news but correctly handled all round … well done everyone and thoughts with those involved.

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Melbourne Comedy Festival’s opening night is rocked by ‘horrific and distressing’ tragedy mid-way through a live show forcing the event to be cancelled

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