Recommended by Rachel Feeny-Williams

Sometimes horrible things happen and we don't really know the reason. That's the heartbreaking situation Jane is trying to work through as she tracks down her old boyfriend (from 20 years ago) to find out why he broke up with her. An odd action, you'd think, until you realise that the closure she seeks is something a lot of people seek when something awful happens for apparently no reason. In that sense, Cassie has constructed a great snapshot of human condition and how we respond to grief. Its an emotionally provocative piece that would make a powerful performance.

So... it took a minute for me to recover from reading this piece but in the best possible way. I've said about many of Jarred's pieces that he is an expert constructor of tension in unique scenarios and this is the pinnacle of uniqueness. The horror genre has gained a gem of a piece in this! Not normally a fan of the horror genre I was drawn into the piece and there is not a doubt in my mind an audience will be too as they lean in to learn about Petyr and his dark life! Truly fascinating!

Love is considered to be an extraordinarily complex emotion, made even more so when you are forced into the marriage by the Government no less! Despite the situation they've found themselves in, Brenton paints a wonderful picture of the kinds of people Irelynn and Bennett are as they explore what is going to happen once they are married. I loved reading about their relationship unfolding and most definitely want to know how their married life unfolds. They are both wonderful characters in a unique premise, what more could you want?

Quite a few people would be able to relate to the idea of not giving ourselves enough credit for the good things about ourselves. In this monologue Matthew explores this idea but listing the qualities in...well himself. You'd think from the title this would be a piece all about ego but it's far from it. Its wonderfully honest and presents the audience with a wonderful image of what it is to really look inside at your good qualities and then present them in a fabulously original. This could make a wonderfully powerful and funny performance with a great end!

When someone is suffering with a long term debilitating disease, it can feel like a prison sentence. That is what I believe Joe has captured brilliantly in this piece. Not only has he presented the desperation in David to want to be treated normally (or as normally as he can be) but as an audience you also get to feel the helplessness and frustration of his parents in this situation. The emotions between the three escalate with wonderful timing until they come to the realisation that sometimes, you just have to let some normalcy happen. So wonderfully touching!

As some others have commented, that ending is not one you will see coming. However, I'm not going to talk about that because you NEED to read this play for yourself to discover it. As well as the fabulous twist ending, Brenton offers the audience a snapshot, not only into the specific relationship of these two characters, but also a situation that a lot of people can relate to (having to chose one aspect of your life over another). It's a play that offers a great deal in ten minutes and will leave audiences smiling (and a little shocked)!

Consider my heart strings very much pulled! Morey has created a beautiful and witty piece that depicts (for me at least) what holidays should truly be about, love, making memories and sharing them with people who make you happy. This play is a gift that keeps giving, starting with the witty back and forth before guiding you to a beautifully timed heartfelt finish. Its a piece that can't fail to give you a warm and fuzzy feeling, while at the same time offering two great characters for older performers. Another wonderful piece from Morey.

When I reached the end of this piece I was overwhelmed by a feeling of awe and admiration. Scott has expertly taken, what is considered to be the darkest part of humanity, the desire to hurt others simply because they are different and wrapped it in a wonderful layer of character creation. This story of darkness, psychopathy and death is truly masterfully constructed. I never for a moment didn't want to keep reading and I believe an audience will see it the same way. Its a piece that offers so much, it just needs (and deserves) a production!

I've said it MANY times, Chris has a gift with creating wonderful characters in unique situations and bringing them to life in a short space of time. The tale of The Last Supper is a familiar story to quite a few people but in this monologue Chris has brought in a wonderfully new perspective, how crazy it is to organise a gathering like that! Loaded with laugh out loud moments, this would make a brilliantly unique monologue to perform for an audition or variety show!

Caring and support comes in many forms! That's the beautiful message you are left with at the end of this wonderfully constructed piece. Without revealing too much about the story, Brenton introduces you to four wonderful characters, each with different complications in their lives, but each wanting to support Philip in their own way. I always say that one sign of great theatre is something that makes the audience feel something, and this piece is a prime example of that. Its a piece that's crying out for performance and something the stage manager/costumes/props can have great fun with!