'This is particularly out of character for me.' Monologues are a crucial element of theatre, for actors and students alike. From high school study to professional auditions and performances, the monologue exposes the heart of a play and the capacities of the performer. The monologue should be relevant to the performer, and a revelation to the audience. This new collection brings together 30 monologues from contemporary Australian plays. These voices-from ages 14 to 84, from the 1880s to the near future-showcase the best of our national writing for the stage. Featuring monologues written by: JANE BODIE • ANDREW BOVELL • KIT BROOKMAN • NICHOLAS BROWN & SAM MCCOOL • PATRICIA CORNELIUS • BRENDAN COWELL • EAMON FLACK • RICHARD FRANKLAND • MICHAEL GOW • R. JOHNS • RASHMA N. KALSIE • FINEGAN KRUCKEMEYER • SUZIE MILLER • ROSS MUELLER • LUKE MULLINS & LACHLAN PHILPOTT • KATE MULVANY & CRAIG SILVEY • TOMMY MURPHY & TIMOTHY CONIGRAVE • JOANNA MURRAY-SMITH • LACHLAN PHILPOTT • LEAH PURCELL • MELISSA REEVES • DAMIEN RYAN • MATTHEW RYAN • STEPHEN SEWELL • KATHERINE THOMSON • CHRISTOS TSIOLKAS • ALANA VALENTINE • MATTHEW WHITTET