Recommended by Daniel Emlyn-Jones

A wonderfully original and charming short comedy with some laugh-out-loud moments. Beneath the witty dialogue and delightful jokes, I loved the powerful theme of growing up and what we take and what we leave behind. Why should we grow up? Why can't we take aspects of our childhood with us into adulthood? Perhaps indeed the whole growing up business is overrated! This play will stay with me!

An unflinchingly honest work dealing with body image, sex, abuse, issues which concern many. To have someone willing to be so vulnerable and explore these issues in a masterfully constructed narrative is a true gift to the audience. I came away feeling less alone because someone had been brave enough to put into words what so many of us feel. For me this wasn't just a play. It was a deeply moving act of empathy: for self and for other human beings. Surely this is the Everest summit of theatre?

This brilliantly insightful and gripping play looks into the minds of the January 6th rioters. Seeing fanaticism up close like this is disturbing, but it's important to be disturbed and as a British person, I learnt alot. There were some hilarious moments, which somehow made it more real, and exposed the ridiculousness and the horror of what these people did. The character of the electoral volunteer was wonderful and provided a poignant dramatic contrast to the deranged men.

When I saw this powerful play read at the Valdez Theatre Conference 2025 it made me angry and uncomfortable, which is good. There are not many places where the plight of refugees is expressed so powerfully, so succinctly or so chillingly. Acted brilliantly by Ben Corbett and Frank Collison, one really felt the desperation, humiliation and loss of a vulnerable refugee and the lavish power enjoyed by the Corrector. A highly relevant play for the times we live in.

A beautifully poignant jewel of a play about a generational and cultural gap between two women. Sexism and patriarchy are still innate parts of our culture. To what extent can women rebel and to what extent do they have to put up with cultural expectations? In the relationship between an older and younger woman, this and other questions are explored with humanity and humour. I saw this play at the Valdez Theatre Conference 2025 and I find myself still haunted by it.

A brilliantly original retelling of the Garden of Eden mythology which also incorporates the little-known mythology of Lilith, Adam's assertive first wife. The story of Lilith was told in Jewish writings, but she was somehow airbrushed out of the bible and became a demon (surprise surprise). This play uses humour brilliantly to gently parody the Eden mythologies, which after all underpin modern patriarchy. Such a play could trigger alot of people, but they need triggering. Please stage it!

This play is immensely stylish and brings with impressive finesse an era and style to the modern stage. Cathro doesn't spoon feed the audience exposition but rather raises questions and presents conflicts which draws the audience into a dark and difficult historical place. The dialogue is also economic and captures a Teutonic crispness. An understated, stylish and powerful play which stays with one...

I enjoyed this play on so many levels. There's the Scott - Deke dynamic, a friendship (and love) entangled with creative aspiration and big existential questions about why creatives do what they do. Why DO we write? This complexity gave the relationship a lustre, a humanity and warmth, which is typical Williams. The dialogue had a wit and sparkle which had me laughing out loud on many occasions. The answers this play provides are in no way contrived, but occur organically with warmth and charm.

Great Theatre like this dives headlong into the messy, paradoxical and painful nature of life. I appreciated the courage and humanity with which Gearhart developed the characters. For me this play is an analysis of how patriarchy punishes and limits men. What indeed does it mean to be a man? To be a father? A son? A veteran? Christmas is a time when we're all expected to play happy families, but how many of us achieve this? I know I don't. Perhaps in the end, the magic of life is in the mess?

As someone who often finds Christmas difficult, I could especially relate to this beautiful heart-warming 10-minute play. Sometimes we have to make our own joy, and for me the wonderful character of Linda encapsulates this, together of course with Rachel. What stars! I want them at my next Christmas!