Man dies on Melbourne International Comedy Festival opening night

The opening night of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival has been cancelled after a man died during the show.

Festival organisers said the Opening Night Allstars Supershow was stopped and cancelled due to a medical emergency.

Emergency services were called to the Palais Theatre in St Kilda about 9pm yesterday.

Police said the death of a man, who wasn't formally identified, was not suspicious.

The festival said it would be in touch with all ticketholders today.

"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," organisers said, in a statement posted on the festival's website and to social media.

"The show was stopped and cancelled."

On Instagram, comedians Dave Hughes and Tahir shared their sadness about the incident.

"All performers (sic) thoughts are with the family affected," the radio host said.

Tahir said "sad news but correctly handled all round".

"Well done everyone and thoughts with those involved," he wrote.

But some people who said they were ticketholders criticised the response to the emergency.

"My thoughts are with the family during this difficult time," musician Emily Daye said on Instagram.

"It was deeply concerning that the show continued for nearly two comedy acts while CPR and defibrillator shocks were being administered in the dark."

Without passing judgement on the response, health worker Andrea Bortoli told The Age the incident was "really distressing" and people were crying as they left the theatre.

"There was obviously something going on at the back, and we were kind of trying to figure out what was going on," she said.

"And then people started leaving. And then it became quite obvious that someone was getting CPR."

The show was billed as the "ultimate kick-off to nearly four weeks of uninterrupted comedy brilliance" with a "a star-studded line-up featuring comedy royalty from around the globe".

Tickets were going for between $73 and $199.

Host Michael Hing reshared the festival's statement on his Instagram story.

The Opening Night Allstars Supershow is not the same as the showpiece Gala event, which was broadcast on television last night but recorded a week earlier.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.