Recommended by Chris Gacinski

“We’re just two characters lost in this labyrinth, searching for something that eludes us.” This may be the best line ever written. Vovos’s absurd world is bleak, minimalist and slightly metatheatrical. Very reminiscent of Pirandello’s “Six Characters in Search of an Author.”

This two-hander captures a complex amount of emotion in these two characters, especially Lucy. What starts off as comedic slowly turns into something didactic. I find all ages plays to be very hit or miss, but Haas triumphantly hits this one out of the park. “A Paper Forest” should be at the top of your list if you enjoy natural settings and rich characters.

Wow. This play is raw. You may have trouble sleeping after reading Richard Lyons Conlon’s “Everything But Dead,” especially after that unexpected ending. This is a must for any fans of dramatic theatre, as you will beg for more after you finish this one.

“A Safe Place” is an important two minutes of one’s time. Dedicated to the victims of the Christchurch shooting, Carnes’s piece is raw, and captures the country recovering from the carnage of this shooting. We must always turn to history to avoid making the same mistakes, and Carnes’s use of a modern tragedy shows how we haven’t learned much from our past, as gun violence is an increasing issue across the globe. A fantastic piece that does so much in such a short amount of time.

The final monologue in this piece is filled with such beauty, yet, Osmundsen’s dialogue throughout possesses a blend of hard-hitting truth and romantic intention. Love and lust are both explored in this piece, as mistaking one for the other can be catastrophically heartbreaking. Osmundsen’s use of fireworks to create an extra layer over this story should also be commended, as those fireworks punctuate and exemplify specific moments in the play. Bravissimo!

Gill’s “The Trouble with Mustard Greens” shows how we retain our cultural identity through cuisines from sed culture. The juxtaposition between a well-balanced meal and a dysfunctional mother-daughter dynamic, the picturesque descriptions of the meal, and the environment Jaspreet exists within make this a very rich piece. Well done!

What a ride! “Top Shelf Tolstoy” possesses absurdist hilarity yet shines light on the decreasing popularity of libraries, which provides authors with life after theirs ends. Any bookworms will enjoy Gill’s piece like a three-course meal, or maybe a drink at the bar.

Never in my life have I ever expected to hear someone say “I am not going to fucking hoot for you.” “Apex Predator” is comedic with a tinge of eerie, and a part of that eeriness is accredited to Carnes’s choice for setting and unpredictable nature of the predators. “Apex Predator” explores one of humanity’s biggest fears: the fear of being watched and hunted. Theatre companies who need a unique and provocative piece of theatre should look no further than this piece.

Growing up in an Italian household, this play brought back a mixture of painful and fond memories. The death of a family member is always a hard process, but Haas and her characters tell a heartwarming story that’ll make you laugh and cry. You genuinely feel for these characters, as the pain they experience is relatable to all who have grieved over the death of a family member. Bravissimo, Claudia Haas!

This, ladies and gentleman, is the playwrights’ play. Philip Middleton Williams captures an array of emotions that captivates the brutal reality of creativity. You will go from angry, to sad, to jovial, all within 7 pages. If you have ever publicly presented your art, you will get a kick out of this play.