Join us for Season 30 at Burning Coal Theatre!

The 2006-2027 Main Stage Season includes:

TRAVESTIES, by Tom Stoppard (Oct 8 – 25, 2026) – A dazzling, fast-talking comedy where history, memory, and total absurdity collide — featuring appearances by figures like James Joyce and Vladimir Lenin. It’s sharp, chaotic, and wildly funny in a way that keeps you leaning forward the entire time.

* THE SEAFARER by Conor McPherson (Dec 3 – 20, 2026) – On a stormy Christmas Eve, a group of men gather for drinks and a card game with unusually high stakes. What starts as grounded and familiar slowly twists into something eerie, gripping, and unexpectedly moving.

GEE’S BEND by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder (Feb 4 – 21, 2027) – Inspired by the real-life quilters of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, this play weaves together history, resilience, and art in a deeply human story. It’s about creativity as survival, and the bonds that hold a community together through generations.

in repertory with 

* THE PITMEN PAINTERS by Lee Hall (Feb 4 – 21, 2027) – A group of coal miners unexpectedly discover a passion for painting. In doing so, they challenge what art is and who gets to make it. It’s funny, heartfelt, and full of underdog energy that’s impossible not to root for.

* THE FANTASTICKS by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones (April 8 – 25, 2027) – A charming, timeless musical about young love, illusion, and growing up. Fantasticks is filled with wit, warmth, and unforgettable songs. Its simple storytelling opens into something surprisingly profound about what it means to really see the world (and each other). It’s the kind of show that feels like a memory you didn’t know you had.

* TITLES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

All Main Stage productions will perform at the Murphey School Auditorium, 224 Polk St, Raleigh.

Performances Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:00pm