Every play on StageCommons is out of copyright in the UK, so you can perform it with no licence and no fee. Here is how we check.
The 70-year rule
In the UK a play is out of copyright 70 years after the end of the year its author died. In 2026 that means authors who died in 1955 or earlier.
Translations and adaptations
A translator or adapter has their own copyright, on the same 70-year rule. We only publish translations whose translator has also been dead for more than 70 years, or versions we have made ourselves.
The edition we use
A publisher’s layout is protected for 25 years. We retype every script from an old edition rather than copying a modern one.
Performing outside the UK
Copyright rules differ between countries. If you are performing outside the UK, check your local rules first.