A Volume of Smoke

A haunting historical docudrama that reconstructs the 1811 Richmond Theatre fire, one of the greatest urban disasters of its time in the United States. Through a series of vivid monologues, the play weaves together the voices of performers, technicians and audience members, exploring the events that led to the chaos and tragedy that claimed over seventy lives, as well as the sombre aftermath that reshaped the community. It highlights the personal losses, including the death of Virginia's governor, and the rise of evangelical fervour that contributed to a ban on public performances.