Recommended by Christopher Plumridge

Oh the many conflicting issues in a playwrights mind! This play continues the journey Claire is making in her (aspired) career, with her ever supportive husband by her side, edging her on and calming her down where needed. Hey, we all need a Tom! I love how she calls her characters c****s for taking so long when she's trying to finish a scene at 3am! Great!

The trials and pitfalls of communication on social media are played out brilliantly in this short piece by COLE. Almost as soon as the online conversation begins, it's spiraling out of control. I for one, chose to steer clear of this type of chat, through previous bad experience. Nothing beats face to face dialogue, when we can see each others expressions and body language. This play is also fun, mainly for one alter ego, Lou. Great!

After watching a scary movie, a good one that is, we are naturally on edge for a while. As is Annie, returning home after a date with her boyfriend and finds herself alone. Luckily her good friend Mollie is on hand on the other end of the phone. And what do good friends do, play pranks on each other! But there is more to this clever little two hander than just that, for the ending is truly chilling. Annie is a great role for a young actor to sink their teeth into. Great!

Never judge a book by its cover, or a girl by the colour of her lipstick. Mora brings together two well thought out characters, their first meeting a mix of friendship and conflict against the seemingly ongoing threat in the USA of shootings in schools. Suddenly half way through, the stakes are raised and this new friendship is tested. I found myself repressing a grin at the final stage direction and the final line, for this is still a serious situation. Very good!

I am not so far into my playwrighting journey, but I can already relate to much of this well written, sensitive play. It's a tough market, full of rejections, and hope can be shattered, luckily for Claire she has the unwavering support from her partner Tom. As this play comes to and end, you can't help feeling there will be more chapters to come of Claires career.

Emma! You have just reduced a 49 year old straight man to tears (happy tears!), this is BEAUTIFUL! Visually wonderful too, set on the Staten island Ferry, everyone going about their daily commute little knowing that fairies are amongst them. I would love to see this staged, there's so much magic in this, it would be lovely to watch!

The ending of this excellent short play gave me shivers, which I love! Dreams can be by nature both beautiful and frightening, but what if others can see into our dreams? And what if those dreams come from the one we love more than anything in the world? COOK's protagonist poses this question to his therapist, who is naturally skeptical, but I for one believe in Vincent. Wonderful and chilling!

It is such a desperate situation that there has to be such drills in schools now, not just fire drills, but worse. Young Noah takes it all in his stride, he's listened to his teachers and has practiced the drills. But you can never stop a mother worrying.
A sensitive play with so much to say. Excellent.

What would we actually do if we had 5 minutes to play G.O.D. ? That's the difficult question facing Jordon as she waits to go to heaven... I mean up, or maybe down. Thankfully, she has the assistance of a Deathbot, with a wonderful cheeky sense of humour.
I do hope that when my time comes, a friendly robot will play some smooth jazz to calm my nerves!
Great, sweet fun!

It's inevitable that 400 years of life will take it's toll. Cindi and Dell are on a mission to foster a new civilization but it is unclear where and when this could happen and those who instructed them have long since passed. This is an interesting look into a relationship between two young women (as if 400 years is young!) and their final decision seems inevitable, nonetheless CROSS has handled this sensitively and subtly. A lovely short play.