Recommended by Rachel Feeny-Williams

I've often said when listening to how stressed parents I know are, its a miracle people choose to have children. That was the first thing that came to mind when I read this wonderfully high energy play. Brian has perfectly framed the idea of parental stress when trying to make summer arrangements. Its a play that offers great opportunities, for the performers to play two great roles with some cracking lines, for the director to replicate the amazing pace you can hear in the dialogue and for an audience to belly laugh out loud!

This play is a LOT, but in the best way. In 1 minute Neil draws his audience into a deep and loving relationship that is so dedicated it sees Kyle bring the woman he loves back to where it all began so they can enjoy a sunset together. For me, the moment alone has such a wonderful level of emotion but it could just as easily be expanded so the audience get to see how Kyle and Emma got to this stage. A wonderfully powerful and heart wrenching snapshot that won't fail to bring tears, it did for me!

The notes for this play advise "It’s a play, so play around." and I can definitely see performers and the director having a wonderful reign to do just that with this wonderfully funny and imaginative piece. It combines the wonderful world of storytelling with the live and in-your-face-ness of theatre! I can imagine it making a fabulously entertaining show for any audience and the fact that it has had multiple well received productions in its recommendations already is hardly surprising. More people should bring Escobar's Hippo to life!

Well...I cried, and I cried A LOT! In creating this piece Colin has invited the audience to be there to witness a horrible day for both Grant and Tom. It would be easy to make this kind of tragedy all about loss and death but through an emotional conversation of discovery you also learn about love, acceptance, and family. It's a truly heart-wrenching but wonderful piece that offers powerful roles for both young and older performers.

I've always loved the way John sets up for a play so that even before the characters have spoken you can see the stage/scene in your mind, and from that point in it gets even better! Maxie is an absolute diamond of a character who offers lines that had me laughing out loud at certain points. You don't often associate philosophy with laugh-out-loud humour but if there is anyone that could make it happen, John could, and has! Would make a fabulously unique play for a festival!

Well...there's certainly a new perspective on the Santa/Elves relationship! This is a wonderfully funny and unique perspective of everything 'traditional' that we know about Christmas, all twisted round and decorated in quick back-and-forth dialogue between Elves, one of whom loves his job and one can't wait to get away. Honestly, there's not much more I can say without ruining it but whether its December or March, this is a fabulous funny festive play!

This play was a marvel on several levels for me!
- Everything from the character descriptions through to the very last line was relatable and felt very real.
- You could feel the emotions between old man and young. The acceptance of old and the desire for adventure from the young. It was these emotions with the quick back and forth that drew me into their relationship and made me want so badly for them to go out and get coffee and bagels.
- And all wrapped in a heartwrenching ending twist.
A brilliantly captured gift for an audience.

I've read many of Lee's monologues and it always fascinates me how is able to bring characters to life to the point where you can see them in your minds eye by the time you've finished reading. This time, not only did Lee bring the fabulous Helena to life but also a bit of history for me. This monologue offers a wonderfully powerful and entertaining female role to play for the actor and also offers the chance for an audience to be entertained and educated. By the end, I really did feel for Helena, Damn that Helen!

There have been many plays about death and the after life but Rody explores a fascinating and wonderfully entertaining new idea in this piece, the place in between. Coupling the very serious issue of 'what happens after you die' with the hilarious back and forth between the colleagues of D.E.A.T.H Inc. and you have left with a fabulous piece that moves with a wonderful pace and is sure to intriegue and entertain an audience in equal measure! Brilliantly creative!

Your brain can (and will) mess with your head on many occasions and its VERY apparent that's the plan here. Emma invites the audience, not only into a play that explores one bizarre scene after another but into her very subconcious! I'm sure directors and designers could have an absolute field day producing this!