'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