The Raw Society Information

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 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 completed - over a five year period of development - the new musicals titled: Bruce - the Musical (formerly named The Tipping Point) and Yippies In Love by Bob Sarti which were both presented to full houses in November 2008 and June 2011 at the Russian Hall in Vancouver's Strathcona neighbourhood and the East Vancouver Culture Centre respectively. Biennially we hold our popular One-Act Playwriting Contest, where we workshop and present original winning plays. As we continue to bring new original predominantly Canadian and ...