Recommended by Alice Josephs

A simple, effective premise but touching on a subject close to the heart of reviewers. In the ‘don’t make them think’ gladiatorial world of TV, the film critic gives thumbs up or down as shorthand. Seasoned journalist presenter meets eager newbie who, disregarding the show’s format, disruptively overthinks the verdict. Great roles for crusty veteran and young critic, with tension building as moment they go on air fast approaches. This is also a live issue as often a critic writes a review and then it’s the newspaper that decides on the rating. So totally on the pulse!

Both an endearing comedy and an existential reflection on present-day family life. With two strong mother and daughter roles plus the previously reluctant youngster enthralled by the domestic paragon robot, there is plenty of potential here as a self-contained staged playlet or for the various stories of the characters’ relationship with the robot ‘to be continued’.

Son and mother share the empty space in their lives without resolution, but tightening their bond of love. A tender, visceral and economical two hander packing in effortlessly a whole family history in its onion-skin one minute.

Cupid - centuries-old art icon - curly blond, pink-cheeked, winged child with bow and arrow or corny pop song title. And in this adroit short satire (maybe the start of a longer stage or screenplay?), a gentle, wise exhibit, last of its kind, at the local zoo. Yet his sweet roughness, caging and near extinction in this parallel world still causes an unexpected havoc as our cherub proves more adaptable to the modern world and modern woman than a hostile male. An ingenious piece with scope for actors, director and wonderful blank canvas for a designer!

A sometimes dark but eventually utterly charming red herring mystery with a characterful midlife crisis. The carefully-structured monologue leads us along a paper and physical trail with a distinctive voice. This could work well for audio, stage and screen and for a skilful older actor and director who can take the audience under the skin of the curmudgeon and those in his household through the satisfying twists and turns.

Beware the side effects of reading this piece: split sides; too much laughing; daring to hope that it could happen … A searing satire although the internet, the release of technology after the fall of the Berlin Wall etc etc all testify to the commercial exploitation of products originating in government funded projects. Easily staged with juicy roles for actors and delicious lines to savour, this has the potential to become not only a Christmas but an all-year classic.

A fable of both great purity and complexity about an artist in a totalitarian state and her ‘Mephisto’ moment in this two-hander. A director and set and sound designer taking it in hand could either follow the writer’s stage directions exactly or keep it stripped down in this visceral piece taking the audience down the rabbit hole into the tormenting psychological and physical reality faced by the citizen artist.

A gorgeous little riff on ‘ice’, taking the trope of the male hobbyist and the reluctant girlfriend forced to tag along and giving it a heartwarming and romantic twist. Each line is perfectly timed in this little diamond of a playlet!

Two bickering teens may be having their final squabble in this delightful three (or four) hander which nevertheless ratchets up the tension before a final cathartic reveal. A tour de force for the actors as the scariness builds and a perfect family entertainment for Halloween!

A characterful and identifiable monologue introduces Reese who surely would be a wonderful recurring character in a further series of monologues or even a full length play? A work full of shrewd psychological insight, and so clever at the end - leaving the audience or listener wanting to know how the son on the other end of the line has taken it all and what exactly he says as his Mom bustles on. Certainly a different, skilful cliffhanger ending!