Theatre was dubbed 'the unofficial home of LA's burgeoning clown scene'

A small comedy venue known as the unofficial home of LA's burgeoning clown scene has been lost to the Californian wildfires.

The 35-seat Public Displays of Altadena - also known as PDA – was in the path of the Eaton wildfire, one of five infernos still burning around the city, which has claimed five lives. At least another five people have been killed in other blazes.

The venue is owned by performers Kevin Krieger and Claire Woolner, who appeared at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe with her show A Retrospection.

Located in a strip mall alongside a liquor store and a gourmet pizza shop, the 'micro--theatre' opened in 2022 after a crowdfunding campaign and was where Maria Bamford recorded her 2023 special, Local Act.  Other comedians to have performed there include Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Dr Brown, cult favourite Mr Chonkers and Red Bastard creator Eric Davies.

Many performers took to social media to pay tribute to the venue. Sarah Shtern said: ‘So much beautiful idiocy was encouraged. It was my second home… my heart is broken.’

Alexandra Derderian said she was ‘devastated by losing this essential community space - so much joy and lovely chaos was created here.’

Greg Nussen said Woolner and her team ‘provided LA theater with such an essential space for play, exploration and experimentation without judgment or expectation’.

And Nikki Hartung said PDA was ‘such a magical cozy theatre where artists could celebrate and play’. 

In an Instagram story, Woolner said they were ‘figuring up what to do with PDA’ adding: ‘Right now we’re just cancelling things, trying to refund people.’

They have launched a crowdfunding campaign that has already raised almost $12,000 of its $15,000 target  to cover seed finding for a new venue, refunding future bookings and ‘to take care of our employees and ensure their well-being during this difficult time’.

A post on the GoFundMe page says: ‘With your generosity and time, we pledge to rebuild PDA and come back stronger, more resilient, and ready to serve our community once again.

Published: 10 Jan 2025