Recommended by Maximillian Gill

I am astonished how some writers have a unique ability to create instantly engaging characters. From page one I felt completely comfortable with the characters in this piece, and Timms pulls that off effortlessly with completely direct, simple dialogue. If I am in from the beginning, I'm in for the whole ride. And yet, just when you get comfortable with the characters, the play takes you to some very unexpected places. No spoilers, but I am impressed at how easily the writer integrates the more unusual elements into the realistic world of the play. Bold and expertly accomplished.

In theory, we all know the human cost of war and we know that it is not reflected in statistics but in personal testimony and, in my opinion, great art. Through this poetic and gripping play, McClain forces us to confront the terrible realities of the First World War. We go on a harrowing journey with the protagonist, a person from a privileged background who is immersed in the horrors of the trenches but refuses to let them defeat her or the soldiers she commits to. The monologues are shattering, each one a compelling piece on its own. Powerful writing.

One of the most original takes on the social media phenomenon I've read in a while! Vividly funny, with some very unlikely characters in even more unlikely situations, yet McBurnette-Andronicos pulls it off. Behind it all a sharp satire that suggests that artificial intelligence could end up manifesting more humanity than the real thing, something we should all start thinking about.

First, great characters, each one distinctive and fully realized, many of them particularly hilarious. The use of ghosts functions as an elegant metaphor of the human need to hold onto the past and the people that represent it. At its heart it’s a sweet love story about two people having difficulty finding their places in the world. The occasional monologues are used strategically to illuminate characters and sparkle with lovely imagery. A fine piece overall.

An evocative little portrait of people trying to reach each other, failing, and still trying. Our two characters don't seem to belong, but at the same time they seem to carry the weight of a city with all of its frenzy and beauty and desperate humanity. Their connection is unexpected, poignant, and expertly rendered through Rice's assured writing.

The piece begins with a situation that could be as easily played for laughs as for drama, yet Williams skillfully manages to have it both ways, sometimes in the same line of dialogue. In the course of the story we see both the fragility and the resiliency of the extended family. The inciting incident is a seemingly offhand visit with ripples that force everyone to confront issues long buried and ultimately find the strength to create deeper bonds. Williams's ability to portray complex family dynamics with such elegance and simplicity is absolutely masterful.

How can you not fall in love with Minky? I saw a wonderful production of Carnes's short piece at a festival of unusual takes on love. This one explores a love that is indeed very odd, but what is startling is how human and poignant the connection between these two mismatched characters really is. The play takes us on a hilarious journey but leaves us with a lovely sense of loss. Great opportunity for an actor who is really ready to feel their inner sock puppet.

Yes, sometimes we just need to talk (or write) about fascism in any of its various manifestations. In this tightly constructed piece, Osmundsen brings the encroachment of fascism down to the most basic level of three people negotiating a new reality that they've been told is for the good of everyone. Terrifying and sad, enlivened with Osmundsen's always skillfully wrought dialogue.

In this tight, intense monologue Gacinski offers a portrait of a person at peak desperation. Most of us thankfully experience few moments in life when all of our possible choices feel like the worst choices we could make. Living in that moment is a terrifying thought, and the writer does not hold back, examining every facet of this character's urgency and his frantic gamble for an escape. I can imagine it being gripping on stage.

In exploring Wagner's plays, I have found her instincts for dialogue and character definition unerring. Here, she applies her formidable skills to a story exploring existential questions of faith and human agency. The writer approaches an inherently dramatic situation in a subtle way by examining it from a perspective removed from the central event by many years and allowing the full scope of the incident to unfold naturally from character interaction. The play does what in my opinion great drama should do by posing questions that urgently demand answers but that ultimately have no answers.