Recommended by Rachel Feeny-Williams

Horrific and tragic, are two words that describe mass shootings as well as many other 'standard' phrases spouted by politicians in the aftermath. Joe has taken the concept of 'dealing with' these tragic events and escalated the emotion and tension to the point where the audience is forced to sit up and listen, as they should. The Senator here is being forced to face not only the haunting of past tragedies but the reality of what follows them, what he has to say and how he's going to look. Its a piece of raw power that an audience will remember!

This play provides a prime example of how one moment in your life can affect a person. Carol and Jimmy are two people who, on the face of things appear very different, she's museums and he's ball games. But as the two discover more about each other, as do the audience, they create a bond in the moment. It's a wonderfully constructed piece with wonderfully vivid dialogue. As an audience member, you also can't help but think about what will happen to the characters when they get off the bus. It's a fascinating piece!

So, despite the dark angle of a woman contemplating ending her life, John has created a real gem here! While the Sgt tries to talk down a woman who feels irrelevant in a world that she has been a star in for many years, his back up is a person who should definitely 'open mouth and insert foot'. The wonderfully funny dialogue is made all the better by the distinct differences in tone between the well meaning Sgt and the hapless officer, not to mention the cherry on the cake of the wonderful female at its centre. Wonderfully funny piece.

The conversation about Scrooge's shirt and bedclothes in the future is one that is sometimes overlooked in the original story, due to the very sad news about Tiny Tim that follows but, in this brilliant re-imagining of the classic tale, Arthur has brought the character of Mrs Dilber into the spotlight and boy does she shine. Its a wonderfully constructed twist on the classic tale that not only offers a brilliant re-imagining but it offers a great female lead in a story that's normally dominated by men! Would make a great alternative for a festive performance!

Murder mysteries are a wonderfully traditional formatted genre of play, but here Joe has taken that genre and sprinkles it with wonderfully funny moments that will keep an audience entertained as well as guessing. To find out 'who done it' you'll have to read it but I thoroughly recommend you do because this is a fabulous twist on the genre of murder mystery with a story that keeps giving and is sure to hold an audience while they guess!

Chris has created a wonderfully curious character in Jim, set in the intimate world of Dr/Patient conversations. Its a piece that not only allows the audience to discover more about its characters as the story progresses but will also leave them with their own questions based on the wonderfully written dialogue. The play offers a great opportunity for discussion about religion, psychology, the nature of delusions and how they manifest. I highly encourage anyone to at least read it but there isn't a doubt in my mind that it would make a wonderfully intriguing piece live!

The complex and intimate nature of therapy is already a fascinating thing to observe but Mike has taken that scenario and entwined a brilliantly funny twist by making it criminals that are on the couch. Put simply, this play is a wonderfully witty back and forth with plenty of laugh out loud moments and I love the Britishness of it. Its a play that would be perfect in one act play festivals because it takes the normal and twists in the a few unexpected turns, which an audience is bound to love!

The question of 'what would you do if confronted with the man responsible for the most heinous thing to happen to you?' that is what is explored in this intricate piece. The intimacy of the deli setting allows the audience to get to know the characters as their lives and secrets unfold. The emotion an tension is perfectly timed to the point where you, as an audience member are desperate to know what's going to happen next and the pinnacle of the action is timed absolutely perfectly as well as offering a brilliant array of characters. An addictive story!

"There is something unique about the way artists see the world." not only is this a wonderful line but it is evidently part of the way Grace has written this beautiful piece. There is something spell binding about this play as you read the emotional back and forth between the two characters as their relationship forms and develops. For me its almost a piece that shouldn't be read but seen because the imagery created both in the dialogue and in the stage directions is intoxicating to the point where an audience need to experience it, that's the power it gives!

Romeo and Juliet has always fascinated me so anything that takes that story and places a new perspective on it is already onto a winner. This twist on the classic tale offers the audience an explanation into the sometimes overlooked character of Lady Capulet by creating her as an emotionally powerful female lead in this tale that proceeds to offer more insight into the classic Shakespearean tale in a brilliantly constructed way. If you're looking for a piece that mixes the classic with the new in wonderful balance then this is the play for you!