View available schools
Free Acting and Playwriting Courses
Here are nine online acting and playwriting courses offered free from three top universities: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Utah State University and Open University.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
MIT lists several theatre-related courses on its OpenCourseWare site. The Playwright's Workshop provides tricks and tips for finishing your script. The Studies in Drama: Stoppard and Churchill course takes a closer look at two famous dramatists to explore literary interpretation and performance.
- English Renaissance Drama: Theatre & Society in the Age of Shakespeare
- Playwriting I
- Playwrights' Workshop
- Studies in Drama: Stoppard and Churchill
- Script Analysis
- Studies in Drama: Theatre & Science in a Time of War
- Modern Drama
Utah State University (USU)
USU offers a free course that surveys ancient Roman and Greek drama to present the evolution of ancient plays.
The Open University
The Open University has a course dedicated entirely to the Renaissance play, Doctor Faustus, and the man who wrote it.
Free Online Theatre Courses at a Glance
| Course & School | Program Level | Format | Assignments | Quizzes & Exams | Downloadable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Renaissance Drama: Theatre and Society in the Age of Shakespeare course from MIT | Undergraduate | External Reading Resources | Yes | No | Yes |
| Playwriting I course from MIT | Undergraduate | External Reading Resources, Texts | Yes | No | Yes |
| Playwrights' Workshop course from MIT | Undergraduate | External Reading Resources | No | No | Yes |
| Studies in Drama: Stoppard and Churchill course from MIT | Undergraduate | External Reading Resources | Yes | No | No |
| Script Analysis course from MIT | Undergraduate | External Reading Resources | Yes | No | Yes |
| Studies in Drama: Theater and Science in a Time of War course from MIT | Undergraduate | External Reading Resources | Yes | No | Yes |
| Modern Drama course from MIT | Undergraduate | External Reading Resources | Yes | No | Yes |
| Classical Drama and Theatre course from USU | Undergraduate | Text Lessons, PowerPoint Slides | No | No | No |
| Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus course from Open University | Intermediate | Text Lessons | Yes | No | Yes |
