Joel Creasey reveals what really happened when a crowd member tragically died at the Melbourne Comedy Festival opening night

Comedian Joel Creasey has revealed what happened when a man tragically died during the opening night of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival on Wednesday night.

The Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow at St Kilda’s Palais Theatre was eventually cancelled mid-show due to a medical emergency in the venue’s dress circle.

The show reportedly continued on for 15 minutes while the man was being treated.

Speaking about the shock incident on his Rikki-Lee, Tim and Joel radio show on Thursday, Joel, 34, gave an insight into the reason for the show not being cancelled sooner.   

‘First of all, thoughts and all of that to the family of the poor person that passed away during the start of the show up in the dress circle of the Palais Theatre last night,’ he told co-hosts Rikki-Lee Coulter and Tim Blackwell.

Continuing, Joel revealed that he was waiting in the wings to go on stage, watching UK comedian Amy Gledhill make her Australian debut.  

Joel Creasey revealed what happened when a man tragically died during the opening night of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this week

‘I was there. I was backstage waiting to go on,’ Joel shared.

‘This beautiful comic Amy from the UK, she was on stage at the time and it stopped  because people from the dress circle were yelling to stop the show.’

He revealed that he and other comics and festival staff began to hear a ‘commotion’ coming from the audience, but they initially thought it might have been protesters making the noise.

‘So we started to hear a bit of commotion but our first thought backstage is that we were thinking maybe protesters because it was a few too many people to be hecklers,’ he said.

Joel added that there had been a ‘miscommunication’ between audience members calling for the show to be stopped and festival organisers backstage.

‘Obviously what has happened is there has been some miscommunication from the dress circle down to the stalls, down to the wings into the backstage to the festival to say there’s a real proper medical emergency happening here,’ he said.

The show (pictured) reportedly continued on for 15 minutes while the man was being treated

 ‘I was there. I was backstage waiting to go on,’ Joel shared

‘Susan Provan, the festival director, she got up on stage and announced that the show would not go on out of respect and fair enough, but my gosh, what a night.

Joel added: ‘I feel so sorry for the family and the people sitting around them.’ 

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 the man suffered a suspected heart attack early on during the show.

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

Shocked 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,’ event organisers posted online.

Emergency services were called to the venue after audience members alerted ushers to the unfolding incident.

Joel added that there had been a ‘miscommunication’ between audience members calling for the show to be stopped and festival organisers backstage 

One attendee told Daily Mail Australia that 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.

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

‘The public and paramedics were there for a good 15-20 minutes in the dark doing CPR before the show stopped.

‘I can’t believe they (the organisers) didn’t communicate with backstage to halt the show, and that it took the public to yell out to the comedian to stop for something to happen.’

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

Another attendee told Daily Mail Australia she was further away from the incident but was able to make sense of the situation by the sound of the defibrillator in the dark.

‘[When the ambulance workers got there] you could hear the defibrillator sounds from across the room. Lighting was dark though – still light enough to see that a lady and man were interchanging doing chest compressions,’ she said.

‘While this was happening, the show was still going on until a man yelled from the audience – somewhere from the dress circle – to stop the show, followed by another guy yelling, “someone is dying”. 

‘Straight after that is when we started to see those on stage actually take action and pause the show.

‘Honestly, the delay in communication from staff is the most disappointing bit. It really robbed someone of their dignity.’

Victoria Ambulance, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Palais Theatre were contacted for comment. 

The ‘Supershow’ marked the start of the month-long festival, a major event on the Melbourne calendar.

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

Comedians including Dave Hughes (pictured) expressed their shock and sadness 

The iconic Melbourne venue was left empty on Wednesday night as crowds headed home in tears

Well-known comedians took to social media late Wednesday night 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.’

Other shocked patrons later took to social media to express their distress.

‘I was at the other end of the row and can’t stop thinking about it,’ one wrote.

Another added: ‘Awful to witness tonight.’

Others slammed the venue and event organisers on how the tragic incident was handled.

‘Was very distressing for all in attendance. Very poor that the show continued for 15mins while compressions took place with only patrons yelling to stop the show while crew attended to the person,’ one wrote.

‘Palais should review their emergency management response plans so this is handled better in the future.’

Another added: ‘There were plenty of staff there. It was poorly handled, and I feel very sorry for the man and his family (and) friends that they had to put up with the inept management while going through the worst possible situation and his last moments.’