Contents introduction chapter 1

The Humans (By Stephen Karam)
The 2016 Tony Award-winning play The Humans by Stephen Karam explores family and its dark underside. It premiered in Chicago in 2014 before opening off-broadway in 2016 and transferring to Broadway later that year – at one stage being the only play open on broadway. A one-act play that takes place in real-time over a thanksgiving family dinner. When parents Erik and Deirdre visit their daughter in her New York apartment we experience the comfortable and raw emotions that come with spending time with your loved ones. This is a beautiful play that I wish I had been fortunate enough to see. Each character is fleshed out and is given a standout moment – a masterpiece for actors wanting to tackle it’s material. Go read it now!
Eclipsed (By Danai Gurira)
Written by Danai Gurira, who you may know as Michonne in The Walking Dead or as Okoye in Marvel’s Black Panther, made her Broadway debut as a writer with Eclipsed – the story of 5 Liberian women who are being held captive during wartime in 2013. It was the first play to have an entirely black female cast and creative team. 5 women in one bullet-ridden shack held captive by a commanding officer who refers to them as his wives. It’s a funny play, but as you can imagine also has heavy content. Danai Gurira said that she wanted to write a play for those whose voices aren’t heard or have never been heard and she certainly achieves that with this play. It was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play so I think that says enough about why you should read it. 
The Inheritance (By Matthew Lopez)
Helmed as ‘the most important play of this century’ The Inheritance began its life at The Old Vic in London before transferring to Broadway in 2019. Considered to be the third great gay play alongside Angels in America and The Normal Heart, it explores what it means to be a gay man alive today in the 21st century and what it means to acknowledge and thank those who came before us. It focuses on Eric Glass and Toby Darling at the peak of their relationship and follows as Toby, an aspiring writer, begins to find success and Eric finds new friendship in Walter, his neighbour upstairs. This play is heartbreaking, I still cry in the same place every time I read it. This is not only a play for gay men, it is a play for everyone. When it premiered in London at the Old Vic in 2018 it won four Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, and transferred to Broadway in 2019 closing short due to COVID-19. I have read this play so many times I cannot count. I don’t often say I was changed by something, but this play changed me. Also… I would love to play Eric Glass, just saying.