French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss used the term bricolage to mean “the innovative use of what’s at hand”. The Bricolage theatre company has based its artistic philosophy on this idea, aiming to create new theatre using the unique resources available in the Pittsburgh region.

Since 2001 the company has played a major role in the city’s cultural life, presenting numerous original works as well as adaptations of classic theatre, collaborations and interactive experiences, and comedic and musical performances.  Some of Bricolage’s unique offerings include Midnight Radio (featuring live performances of radio drama scripts) and Bricolage Urban Scrawl (BUS) in which writers, directors and actors are challenged to create short plays within a 24-hour period.

The company actively seeks to challenge artist and audience alike, to engineer unique and volatile creative situations which produce theatre that is innovative, vital, and speaks to Pittsburgh’s cultural condition.  In 2005, with the aid of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Bricolage moved into its current home in a downtown space formerly occupied by a Turkish bathhouse, where it presents all of its productions.