• We believe that hands-on experience in the real world independent theatre is the best way to learn, teach, and perform thespian art and skills.

• Our mission is to provide a venue for new and under-employed performers, playwrights and drama technicians, with a multi-cultural emphasis.

• Our productions represent a diversified balance, ranging from raw experimental to the theatre classics. Relevant productions, exploring social issues distinct to our local community are our specialty.

• We are risk takers, willing to give exposure to voices seldom heard, striving for artistic excellence, in the presentation of unusual, awakening, and exchanging theatre.

Our company is dedicated to artistic grassroots theatre in the Lower Mainland of Vancouver, as well as to presentations beyond B.C. borders. We are risk takers, creating and responding to the cultural needs of those in the Canadian and International community. We want to provide an open, creative, and supportive atmosphere for struggling artists and give exposure to tried and untried playwrights.

"Exposing Voices Seldom Heard" since 1994...

"…Performances so genuine that there is a real sense of sadness mixed with the laughs."
—Peter Birnie, The Vancouver Sun

"…What polish! What energy! What feeling! In short, what a fabulous performance! We were totally knocked sideways."
—Audience member from "Bruce—The Musical

Theatre In the Raw started out of a storefront cafe called La Quena on East Vancouver's Commercial Drive in 1994. We rehearsed and performed there for three years, producing over 125 one-acts in over 43 nights of theatre. During that time we received a Canada Council Exploration grant, supporting us to go on two tours along the Squamish corridor and Sunshine/Sechelt coast.

We also held a free outdoor theatre festival event with 16 performances at Grandview Park on Commercial Drive with the help of a Vancity Community grant. A thousand people came out to see a full day of Theatre in the Park. Since our start, we've performed in numerous venues both in the southern/interior of BC, four western Canadian Provinces including Seattle, Washington for the 1998 Seattle Fringe Festival.

Starting in 1996, we moved towards mainstage shows. We've produced ten full-length mainstage plays at major venues in the lower mainland area - 5 of which were premieres of original Canadian plays in Vancouver.

To date we have embarked on six mini and major tours for the company, producing both one-acts and mainstage work "on the road" to audiences outside of the Vancouver area.

In 2008, we embarked on a four-province tour with 3 original Canadian One-Acts - where we produced quality, risk-taking artistic works with substance that offered exposure to creative voices seldom heard. We're thrilled that many theatre artists have passed through our doors moving onto the professional theatre and creative performing arts world.

We've recently completed over three years of developing the successful new musical titled: Bruce - the Musical by Bob Sarti (formerly named The Tipping Point) which was presented to full houses in November 2008 at the Russian Hall in Vancouver's Strathcona neighbourhood.

Biennially we hold our popular One-Act Playwriting Contest, where we workshop and present original winning plays.

Driven by our mandate, we're committed to "exposing voices seldom heard" through diverse themes, message and educational content within all of our theatre production work. Our artistic director, Jay Hamburger mindfully chooses works that align with continuing/current social issues/affairs arising within our own local, national and the international communities.

In addition to our audience/community being simply "entertained" by our shows, we know that the content of our work can also educate, inform and inspire - including celebrating our Canadian cultural diversity. When we "expose" the wide diversity of our humanity we can hopefully break down some of the barriers of i.e.: poverty, minorities, racism, ageism, homophobia and sexism. At the same time, a relevant performance piece can implement and help dispel societal fear(s) of its own cultural and economic differences. We consistently receive positive feedback from our audiences commenting specifically to the conceptual reasons and intents behind the presentation of each production.

As we continue to bring new original predominantly Canadian and international quality theatre-works to the stage, we're proud to offer employment to those in our local community. From our start in a small Vancouver Commercial Drive venue our theatre has produced fresh, exciting and thought-provoking dramas for audience members of all ages.