Contents introduction chapter 1

American Son (By Christopher Demon-Brown)
This is by far one of the most beautiful plays I’ve ever had the privilege of reading and seeing. American Son takes us on a rollercoaster ride as we watch a mother come to a police station on a rainy night hoping to get some help in finding her son who has not yet returned home. It holds up a mirror to society and makes us look hard at the uncomfortable truths of where we are and how far we have to come. It’s now a Netflix movie starring the original Broadway cast. It is a masterpiece in theatre and film, and an absolute masterclass in acting. 4 actors on a stage for 90 minutes in high stakes exploring maternal, marital and social fears. I cannot speak highly enough, do whatever you can to read and watch this. 
Sister Cities (By Colette Freedman)
When four estranged sisters reunite over their mother’s unexpected death, we explore their relationships and the meaning of family. A fairly unknown play, it’s never had a mainstage production, but it’s a beautiful piece for 4 female actors. Definitely, something to look at if you’re on the search for a scene or monologue. I was lucky enough to see a production a fair few years ago, and it’s still a piece that I think about every so often. 
Bad Jews (By Joshua Harmon)
Joshua Harmon’s second mention in this article, ooo fancy! Premiering Off-Broadway in 2012 Bad Jews is about a group of cousins who come together after their grandfather’s death. After being left a priceless piece of jewellery that their grandfather successfully smuggled out of Nazi Germany conflict erupts. Bad Jews is a dark comedy that looks at the importance of family, culture and religion. Joshua Harmon was inspired to write Bad Jews after attending a ceremony where grandchildren of holocaust survivors were invited to give speeches. Requiring only 4 actors, 2 female and 2 male, this is a wonderful play for 20something actors. If you need a laugh, give it a read. 
The Flick (By Annie Baker)
The beauty in this play is just how very boring it can be in the best way possible. The Flick tells the story of three underpaid movie ushers and depicts what appears to be the mundane tasks of working at the cinema. It’s received both glowing and not so glowing reviews in its time, mainly for its length and what can seem unexciting nature. I personally love The Flick. I read it with a group of friends and we unanimously appreciated its simplicity and its fully realised characters. The Flick is a Pulitzer prize-winning play that should be on everyone’s to-read list. Originally premiering Off-Broadway in 2013 The Flick has since received hundreds of productions around the world with good reason – its look at the divide between race and socioeconomic status is beautiful to watch unfold over its 3 hours.