<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>341178</docID> <postdate>2025-03-27 09:42:15</postdate> <headline>Comedy festival gig abandoned as audience member dies</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-341179" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20220609001667711336-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="601" /></p> <caption>Paramedics were called to the Melbourne Comedy Festival after an audience member collapsed. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Rachael Ward</strong> in Melbourne</span></p> <p><strong>The opening night of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival was abandoned after the death of an audience member.</strong></p> <p>The man suffered a medical emergency at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda on Wednesday night, festival organisers said.</p> <p>AAP has been told the man was sitting at the back of the theatre and audience members attempted to give him CPR for about 10 minutes before paramedics arrived.</p> <p>It's understood the show continued until organisers were alerted to the emergency and the performance was stopped.</p> <p>"Melbourne International Comedy Festival regrets to confirm that there was a medical emergency while the Opening Night Allstars Supershow was taking place this evening at the Palais Theatre," the festival said in a statement.</p> <p>"The show was stopped and cancelled. The Festival will be in touch with all ticket holders."</p> <p>Ambulance Victoria confirmed paramedics responded to an emergency call about 8pm.</p> <p>Victoria Police said the death of the unidentified man is not being treated as suspicious.</p> <p>Comedians and audience members took to social media to express sorrow or concern about the how the incident was handled.</p> <p>"All performers thoughts are with the family affected," Dave Hughes wrote.</p> <p>The rest of the festival will continue as planned.</p> <p>AAP has contacted Palais Theatre operators Live Nation for comment.</p> </body>