Recommended by Rachel Feeny-Williams

I love a play where the opening stage directions can make me smile! From there Bruce tells a lovely but sad tale through four brilliantly unique characters. I loved the pure good and innocence of the young boy and the justaposition of his mother with her cold 'reality' attitude. If this play was made into a film I believe it would be described as 'feel good' despite the emotional ups and downs you will most certainly go through. The most important thing is that, at its core, this is a tale about caring for other people, and that's just wonderful.

A play of one page results in a MILLION QUESTIONS!! As I laughed over the reporters comment my brain went into instant overdrive about what this story could be? Adam has a wonderful ability to expertly frame a moment in his one minute plays so they are great on their own. There's also a secondary skill in leaving it just open enough so that the audience can start putting their own ending or before on this moment. Just wonderfully written!

Creating wonderful images that you can see in a play is one thing but Arianna manages to creat a play when you can almost smell it. Having set the scene, you are then invited to witness a snapshot of the lives of two women who are both in pain in different ways. As I read about Meredith and Lada I couldn't help but feel for them both in different ways (and for me its always a positive when you can feel for the characters). This play is a lovely example of how every encounter can change lives.

For me this play was a piece that expertly unfolded at the right pace. As an audience member you were asking questions as the action proceeded and Debbie rewards you with the answers explained by a woman waiting for her love and the unexpected person who delivers her some news. She also intertwines the familiar tale of broken promises, the complexity of romance and for me an ending I really didn't see coming. All perfectly balanced in amongst the two characters who the audience witness as part of this unexpected meeting.

Seeing your parent with another person is a hard thing for anyone to endure but when you have been through the emotional wrenches that Oliver has I can imagine it is unbearable. Deb brings that across in lovely tender dialogue between Oliver and Charlotte as she reassures him and prepares him for his big speech. Its a wonderfully tender but heart wrenching piece and has written with wonderful affection and care towards its characters. When (because it needs to be) this piece is performed it will be something that leaves its audience feeling without a doubt!

I note 2 things about this very well written monologue. Firstly, Cole creates some wonderful descriptive imagery as Harper talks about the moment his injury occurred. Its a great way for an audience to truly feel part of the experience, even though the experience is a tragic one. The second thing is the fixation of being the best, even after he's suffered in a horrific way. Harper gives the distinctive impression that he is all about being a goalie and that is what makes the events that unfold more tragic and for me a very emotion provoking piece.

The world of being an artist in any capacity is complicated. In this piece Sam is clearly depicted in his desperation to move forward with his music and career in a world that wants to throw up problems. Emily introduces you to this world as you read through not only the wonderfully paced back and forth dialogue but also powerful and thought provoking song lyrics. I am intrigued to see how Act 2 will unfold.

When I saw the title of this monologue I was ready for a comedy piece. While there are moments of comedy in this monologue, the key thing that resonates for me is the heart breaking moments when you consider what the dog is actually observing. I read this piece multiple times to consider this and each time I saw more layers to this speech, and that is what makes this piece for me. Elisabeth has created a great character who comments in a wonderfully articulate way about, what is eventually revealed, about a very difficult time. Its brilliantly written.

A meeting between a wife and P.I starts with the usual, suspicious of infidelity and murder and then just as you feel like you know where its going, Ryan expertly twists and turns to the point that by the end you will be leaning on your hands with a desperation to know where its going next! I know that because that's how it played out for me. The more I discovered there was more to Miss Harris and Mrs Page that met the eye, the more I wanted to see. Congratulations Ryan, this play is a fabulous tension builder!

"Life is meant to be lived. Delightfully." YES! That is the wonderful message that John presents in this show that details the very real difficulty of keeping a relationship going during the Pandemic. The wonderfully romantic dialogue between Sal in Regina at certain points can't fail to make you go AW! This piece is another example of how John expertly portrays relationships in a beautiful, funny and tender way despite the awkward circumstances they are living in. It was so nice to read a play relating to the pandemic that made me feel happy by the end.