'One eye closed, the other locked on my target.' 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: DONNA ABELA • JADA ALBERTS • ANGELA BETZIEN • ANDREW BOVELL • MELISSA BUBNIC • MARY ANNE BUTLER • JUSTINE CAMPBELL & SARAH HAMILTON • STEPHEN CARLETON • KATHERINE THOMSON, ANGELA CHAPLIN & KAVISHA MAZZELLA • ELIZABETH COLEMAN • PATRICIA CORNELIUS • WESLEY ENOCH • JANE MONTGOMERY GRIFFITHS • RASHMA N. KALSIE • DANIEL KEENE • FINEGAN KRUCKEMEYER • SUZIE MILLER • KATE MULVANY & CRAIG SILVEY • TERENCE O'CONNELL • DEBRA OSWALD • LACHLAN PHILPOTT • LEAH PURCELL • CAROLINE REID • DAMIEN RYAN • SAMAH SABAWI • STEPHEN SEWELL • NINNA TERSMAN • ALANA VALENTINE