What is Theatre? Courses, Fees, Top Institutes, Careers & Salary 2025

The core areas of the course in theatre arts across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes stresses on the following areas:

• Dramatic Theory
• Foundations and History\Research Methods
• Technical Theatre
• Literature and Criticism
• Playwriting
• Acting
• Directing
• Theatre in Education and Comparative Drama\Theatre.

Hi Jeenu,

The fees required to pursue a course in theatre can range from 10,000 to 1.5 lakhs depending upon the type of course i.e part time certificate course, weekend workshop, Advance weekend programme etc.

All the best!

Filmmaking and theatre are both art forms that tell stories through the use of visual images and dialogue. However, there are some key differences between the two mediums.

Hi Rubel,

There is no stringent academic requirement to pursue a course in theatre, any graduate can opt for the course and there are even some of the certificate courses which you can opt for after 12th

All The best

Eligibility criteria vary depending on the institution and the level of the course. Generally, most acting courses in India accept students who have completed their high school education  (10+2) or equivalent. Some institutions may also require applicants to undergo an audition or interview process to assess their aptitude for acting.

Students who are artistic in mind and choose either to work as a social worker, teacher, or researcher can pursue this course. For candidates hoping to work in the fields of Human Rights, Commercial Arts, Theatre, Healthcare,  Exhibition Design,  Social Services,  etc.., the MFA degree is thought to be the ideal option.

Students who take an MFA course benefit from improved analytical and critical thinking abilities that assist them gain knowledge of their subject. There are many fine arts courses available that can provide students the chance to use their abilities and interests. Fine arts include things like painting, writing for the screen, or in films, among other things. 

Candidates can pursue various diploma courses in theatre and acting after 12th. Some of the Diploma courses are Diploma in acting, direction, dramatic arts, screenwriting etc. Candidates can pursue these courses either online which is a short-term course or pursue full-time undergraduate degree from recognised colleges and universities. Some colleges require candidates to appear in entrance examinations in order to be eligible for Bachelor's programme. They must also produce their Class 10th and 12th certificates in order to finalise their admission in their desired college.

Yes, you can take admission in acting schools after class 10th but I would prefer you to also do basic courses like film making, editing and thus build contacts. Also, try giving auditions. Even if you take arts stream and then pursue a career in Film making or Mass Media, you will have more contacts and detailed information about the industry. Also, focus on skills like communication, public speaking, etc.

This will help you a lot.

CUET exam centre is allocated on the basis of the preferences entered by the candidate while filling the CUET application form. NTA allotes exam centre as per the preference entered and is subject to availability and logistical consideration.

While filling the CUET application form, candidates can select four cities of their choice. Choice of CUET exam centre cities will be limited to the State of permanent address or State of present address only. In case there are very few candidates from a city, the NTA reserves the right to merge one, two, or more cities.

CUET 2026 exam will be held in May-June 2026 in computer based mode over a month window. The exam will be held across more than 300 exam cities in India. Candidates will be able to know the alloted exam centre on issuance of CUET intimation slip or CUET admit card.

Candidates preparing for CUET PG 2026 can download the CUET PG syllabus 2026 pdf by visiting the official website of CUET PG 2026 or can check out in this Shiksha page.

It is also observed that the CUET PG syllabus doesn't this year, so candidates are suggested to either go to the CUET PG 2026 official website and search for CUET PG syllabus there.

An artist's development and many facets of their artistic journey can be greatly impacted by earning a Master of Fine Arts (MFA). The chance to improve skills in a controlled setting is one important advantage.

MFA programmes frequently provide studio courses that let artists hone their technical skills, try out new mediums, and gain practical experience. Furthermore, a commonality among many MFA programmes is the focus on conceptual development and critical thinking. To gain a greater grasp of their artistic work, artists study art theory, take part in debates, and receive criticism.

One other benefit of MFA programmes is exposure to a variety of viewpoints. These programmes establish an environment where people can be exposed to a wider range of artistic viewpoints and expand their worldview by bringing together artists from different backgrounds. 

A list of the best Bachelors courses in acting is listed below:

1. Bachelor of Arts in Communication Degree
2. Bachelor of Arts in Drama Degree
3. Bachelor of Arts in Film Degree
4. Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theater Degree
5. Bachelor of Arts in Costume Design Degree
6. Bachelor of Arts in Stage Management
7. Bachelor of Arts in Screenwriting Degree
8. Bachelor of Arts in Directing/Theater Production
9. Bachelor of Arts in Theater History Degree
10. Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies Degree

I hope this will help you.

Yes,  some acting courses in India offer opportunities for specialisation in specific areas of acting or related disciplines. For example, students may choose to focus on method acting,  classical theatre, musical theatre, film acting, or voice acting,  depending on the available options within the curriculum.

The candidates who pursue undergraduate or postgraduate courses in Theatre and Acting have to complete Actor Preparation Training which is an essential part of their curriculum. The lessons taught under this area are as follows:

• Physical Movements
• Face Expression Exercise
• Stages of Hand and Leg Movement
• Acting Movement
• Stage Acting

Hi Farheen,

Mentioned below are some of the subjects that you need to learn for theater art :

• Stage Technology
• Scene Design
• Costume Design
• Lighting Design
• Theatrical Makeup
• Play Analysis
• Theatre Workshop

All the best!

Some of the top acting schools in India includes the private schools and training institutes run by top artists and actors who good amount of experience in the field of theatre and cinema. Some of these institutes includes:

• Anupam Kher's School of Acting
• Indira Group of Institutes, Pune
• Natchathirapattara, Chennai
• Skywalk Acting Institute, New Delhi
• Kristal Academy, Ahmedabad
• Indian School of Film and Drama, Ranchi

Relevant Link: Best Drama Colleges in Noida

Top 5 acting schools are:

1. FTII, Pune Film and Television Institute of India
2. The Barry John Acting studio,Mumbai
3. National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi
4. Anupan Kher’s, Actor Prepares
5. Subhash Ghai’s, Whistling Woods International

Hi Jeenu,

There are certification courses to learn theatre, mentioned below are some of the institutes which provide the same :

• IGNOU
• The Drama School Mumbai
• National School of Drama
• Actor Prepares
• National School of Drama [TIE Wing], Tripura

All the best

Various jobs options for graduates in Theatre Arts are in the field of Performing Arts are manifold and also offer exciting remuneration of around INR 3-7 LPA. Some of these job profiles include:

• Movie Director
• Playwright
• Set and Costume Designer
• Professional Stage Manager
• Drama Therapy
• Theatre Education

Candidates who have recently completed Theatre courses can expect to earn somewhere between INR 2-4 LPA. The salary and perks increase with experience and portfolio diversification of the candidate. This career option requires candidates to socialise and also showcase their talents through freelance projects. After gaining experience, they can earn between INR 8-15 LPA based on their number of projects and theatre shows.

A good way to introduce yourself into the world of acting is by reading books written by actors or acting teachers. You can learn so much from watching classic films. Each film can teach you a different acting skill such as instinct, character development, stage directing, blocking, and physicality.

Acting is very time consuming, and if you seriously want to start your career in acting, you will need to dedicate more time to it than just the weekends. Be financially prepared. Refer to below link for the best institutes: https://www.shiksha.com/mass-communication-media/film-tv/articles/top-10-acting-schools-in-india-blogId-8822

Knowledge of Traditional Art Forms are essential for understanding the evolution of Theatre as an Art form having huge cultural and social significance. The various traditional Theatre forms that are taught are as follows:

• Therukoothu – Tamil Nadu
• Koodiyattam – Kerala
• Bhavai – Gujarat
• Bhagavata Mela – Tamil Nadu
• Nautanki – Uttar Pradesh
• Ankiyanat- Assam