Plays and works for theater that have been written and published cannot be publicly read/performed without the prior permission of the author/playwright or the publishers. This is to protect their intellectual property rights and ensure that copyright laws are respected. Many schools and educational institutions may use plays as part of their literature teaching curriculum but if they decide to produce the play they may need prior permission to avoid being in violation of the legal rights of the copyright holders.

However, in the age of the Internet, thousands of dramatic works and scripts are available freely on-line for anyone to put up a performance anywhere in the world without seeking the permission of the copyright holder, unless it is specifically mentioned that you should. Free theater plays are performed by both amateur and professional groups, schools and colleges, children's theater groups, street performers, they are modified for film, radio and television, they may also be converted into musicals and other traditional art forms which incorporate music and dance. With all these, it's essential to first thoroughly check what kinds of permissions are required and from whom. Some authors allow people to read and distribute the script but do not allow it to be performed on stage without permission.

The great advantage with using free theater plays is that you don't need to waste time seeking permission. If the writer lives in another country or is deceased, locating the copyright holder could be difficult. Some publishers may have gone out of business or may no longer be available at the location given in the script. Hence, a free script is a great way to go into production immediately. You need not be apprehensive about being in violation of any copyright laws. Many famous writers and playwrights put out some of their works for free use and here you get the advantage of a known name. However, some authors do not allow you to modify, change or alter their original scripts and this could invite infringement of copyright laws.

The flip side of using free theater plays is that you can never be sure about the quality. There are thousands of free scripts available in your local library, school or college textbooks and on-line, but not all of them are of top-notch quality. It could take a lot of research to find a good quality free theater play that you can produce on stage. The other problem with free theater plays is that your choices are limited. Works by gifted playwrights and authors fall under intellectual property and you need to either pay for them or seek their permission.

Depending on your budget, personal needs and the needs of your theatrical group, your goals and philosophy and the audience, you can decide whether to opt for a free theatrical script or not.

Our website offers a wide variety of free Theatre Scripts from the Brazilian author Luciana B. Veit. For more relevant information visit website.

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