'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