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, r isk-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 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.

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.

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Jay is a founder and current artistic director of Theatre In the Raw Society over the last 16 years. He has acted, directed and produced numerous shows in Canada including the United States.

Jay is a respected theatre instructor/mentor/director and has taught nearly all aspects of theatre in both countries to children, adults and seniors - he has worked extensively with First Nations artists in BC.

A little bit of trivia... you may not know, is that Jay wrote the lyrics for the ever-popular heart-warming song, By My Side for the blockbuster musical Godspell and has had a number of his original scripts produced both in Vancouver, BC and in New York City, New York. Jay has also written both poetry and newspaper articles for various small presses. His passion is presenting original theatrical content written by new Canadian playwrights and "exposing voices seldom heard" by presenting plays that "mean something" with social consciousness content.

In the recent past, he coordinated, directed and broadcast 13 original radio play pieces for the Carnegie Radio Play Project over Vancouver Co-op Radio 102.7 FM. He also directed eight one-acts for the Fall 2004 Festival of One-Act & Radio Plays produced at Cambrian Hall in Vancouver.

He has worked as coordinator of the Theatre Workshop at the Carnegie Community Centre in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. He presently teaches Acting for adults with The Vancouver School Board Continuing Education and Bonsor Community Centre for teens and adults.

Jay most recently directed (produced by Theatre In the Raw) the poplular heart-warming show Bruce - The Musical (by Bob Sarti) about the late, great legendary Vancouver Downtown Eastside Activist, Bruce Eriksen - which ran to full houses at the Russian Hall in Vancouver in November 2008.

Theatre in The Raw is very active in its community. Below are some links to interviews with TITR artistic director Jay Hamburger and articles on our past work and shows:

• Edmonton Vue Weekly
• The Regina Leader-Post
• The Jewish Independent
• www.credit-union.com
• www.thecommentary.ca
• www.vancourier.com

A "Raw" tradition... Theatre In the Raw's artistic director, Jay Hamburger reading a poem prior to a showing of "Bruce - The Musical" at the Russian Hall, Vancouver, BC, November 2008. Photo by Steve Duncan.

The Troupe of Theatre In the Raw & artistic director Jay Hamburger accepting the 11th Annual Roger Inman Memorial Award for Community Economic Development at the CCEC Credit Union AGM, 2004.