Raleigh’s “indie-spirit” Burning Coal Theatre Company aims to inspire viewers with a visceral experience, reaching beyond traditional boundaries into a deeply felt interactive exchange between actor and audience. Focusing on socially-conscious new work and bold re-imaginings of classic titles, powerful explorations seen during the company’s 14-year history include acclaimed productions of David Rabe’s A Question of Mercy, Richard Adams’ Watership Down, Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, and the 1960s love-rock musical Hair.

Housed at the sleekly renovated Meymandi Theatre (at the Murphey School), Burning Coal presents five intimate mainstage productions each year and two daring new works for its Second Stage series. Dramatic exploration continues at the troupe’s developmental TheatreLab, workshopping the most innovative scripts by local writers, as well as in Burning Coal’s extensive educational outreach program, offering everything from classes in the technique of legendary teacher Uta Hagen to TEATRO, a drama program designed to strengthen literacy in young ESL students.