Recommended by John Mabey

This play was incredibly engaging and so creative in the way the story was told. I've not read another play that explored body image and eating disorders in such an honest and truthful way while also showing the characters as complex and not archetypes. It's also very rewarding to see queer characters as part of the narrative where sexuality isn't pathologized but instead an aspect of identity. There are so many great insights revealed through these characters about body dysmorphia, triggering and connection/misconnection that will stay with me long after the final page.

Self-acceptance can be a difficult road, and in this play it's explored through two queer men on opposite ends of the path but still with so much in common. Set in the historically real world of the 1950s (when homosexuality would still be considered a mental illness for another two decades) this short play unpacks a rich examination of bias, internalized shame, and connection. Nick Malakhow is skillful in creating layers of subtext that make both characters distinct and the story incredibly compelling.

Ruby's Baby Blue has an amazing way of transcending genre. It gives a fresh look at end-of-life emotions while also exploring the vibrancy of life and revelation. There are no cliches as the characters are original and unexpected in their reactions and the ways they choose to connect. It offers an original and heartfelt look at sexuality and the complexities of family, and the characters in this play will stay with me long after the last page.

This short play is powerful and left me with both tears and hope. Two men, both fathers, struggling with the best ways to connect with their children and with themselves in a divisive world. Exploring gender, sexuality and dogma is challenging in a short piece, and this play delivers.

This beautiful piece has multiple layers of raw and heartfelt honesty, comedy, and the perfect amount of hope. During a pandemic there are limited ways to connect, but the character in this monologue indeed finds ways to make "the world shine just a little bit more than it did before."

John Minigan takes such care and skill with a topic that none of us want to think about, but is a reality for many. This play expertly explores two sides of a situation where there are no good answers but so many questions. He takes those intense emotions around an active shooter drill and elevates them even further for a sincere and unexpected exploration of friendship as well.

Arianna Rose has such a unique way of creating moments of levity even in the most challenging of topics. Her beautiful writing is layered with meaning and depths of emotion that make both seen and unseen characters come alive.

"The real truth gets in the way of a good story. And that’s the truth." So much amazing dialogue throughout DeVita's epic, tour de force. The staging is also incredibly impressive, making creative use of actors and props with lighting, shadows and dance. Placards seamlessly move us from one location to the next and the story of these women is captivating and moving.

"None of us are gonna be remembered for who we really were, or who we thought we were. We’ll be lucky to be remembered at all." Nothing about this play is forgettable.

Paul Donnelly has written a heartfelt play that captures the bittersweet layers of acceptance, both of yourself and of others. As trauma (physical and emotional) becomes internalized, it affects the ways in which we see the world and ourselves. Donnelly plays on this theme beautifully, expanding the concept of 'family' and demonstrating that the most important acceptance comes from within.

A lovely short play that reveals so much between parent and child both in the dialogue and between the lines. A great exploration of the complexities of love and parenting.