Recommended by Joshua Fardon

A murder mystery involving a group of artists on a retreat, Murder in Residence is more than the sum of its well-constructed parts - there's plenty here about relationships, literature, feminism, history, humility, jealousy, and the baffling gulf between talent and virtue. Funny, relatable, intriguing, and theatrical, this play is treasure trove for actors - every role has something deep to mine.

About a breed of cruelty that most dreamers and strivers have experienced at least once, Being Seen is theatrical, compelling, challenging, hilarious, a little bit heartbreaking, simple to stage, and has two delicious roles for actors. The themes in this complex but thoroughly engaging play will be recognizable, not just to people in the arts, but to anyone who has struggled with power.

The true horror of this play comes from Celine trying to connect with her daughter and instead getting lost in a fog of helplessness, alcoholism, frustration and despair. The play's grim edict that we become the ghosts that haunt us is delivered in a powerful way that will resonate with audiences. A great, terrifying read which would do well paired up with a similarly themed one-hour one-act.

Extremely relevant in light of recent events. A quick, funny look at our tendency to normalize the metaphorical volcanos that inundate our world and to worry about small stuff as big stuff threatens everything.

About a guy who has a very strange affair, this quick comedy is genuinely extremely funny and would be a welcome addition to any daring shorts festival. Without giving too much away, it's Unfaithful meets Princess Mononoke on a bare stage. It'll take you five minutes and you'll laugh - read it!

Direct and brave, FGSG, et.al. depicts a ferocious interior psychological battle. Sparked by society's ridiculous expectations and trapped by her own self-doubt, Girl must choose sides between Fat Girl and Skinny Girl, even at the cost of her own health and sanity. Theatrical and inventive, with strong parts for women, this fierce and funny play makes an important statement about our bodies and how we feel about them.

All of the characters in this play (expect maybe the Christian puppeteers) have an unspoken and shared sense of loneliness - a longing to connect which they can't ever fully achieve. Heartbreaking, hilarious, inventive, intimate, scary, written with compassion, yet escapes sentimentality. The dialogue sings, the relationship between Steve and Frank feels painful, complex and real, as Marty, while hysterical, labors to make everything better. Has the power to profoundly move its audience while filling the house with laughter. A rare gem and which needs to be produced. Seriously.

Laugh-out-loud, unpredictable, delirious, trail-blazing, meta-theatrical, it's the only play in which you'll hear a song called "Stanislavsky Gave me Herpes" and see Fred Rodgers thank Hustler Magazine on his show. The play gleefully skewers YouTube reviews, fracking, stem cells, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Woody Allen and optimism in general. Provocative, satirical, restless, and relentless, with a comedically talented cast and direction it could have audiences in hysterics. As crazy as the atmosphere the play establishes is, it's all too recognizable. A funhouse mirror of our society.

A dramedy which manages to be both a satire of the coping mechanisms surrounding addictive behavior and a sincere examination of alcoholism, guilt and despair. The dialogue jumps off the page and its unblinking confrontations are a joy to watch. A simple set, a small number of characters, easy to produce, fun to act, sincere, acerbic and deep, it will leave audiences with something to think about after they wipe away the tears from laughing so hard.

This play starts like a blast of energy from nowhere and doesn’t let up. You never know where Henry’s headed - he could be sparring with his stoner neighbor, getting head butted by his volatile girlfriend’s homeless cop brother or borrowing a phone from a member of the audience - the only given is he has limited time left with us and by the end of this funny, feverish, wildly intelligent play, you’ll wish it was more. Great dialogue, swift action, engaging characters. Can’t believe I’m the only reviewer so far - read it!