Women Centre Stage: Eight short plays by and about women by various playwrights

When it was revealed that only 28% of the National Theatre's 2017/18 output was by female playwrights, there was a collective sigh of exhaustion among the theatre Twitter community.The NT's target is for a 50/50 balance between genders, so the news was a tough truth to swallow, considering the incredibly moving and imaginative work being written by women – this collection is proof of that.

Explorations of feminism, love and family duty show the breadth and depth to which writers can take stories centred on women, without falling victim to old tropes and clichés. Although the varied body of work showcases individual talents, stand-outs include Tituba, Winsome Pinnock's sharp one woman show exploring Tituba Indian, who was enslaved during the Salem Witch trials; April De Angelis's Wilderness, a blunt two-hander between psychiatrist and patient; and Fucking Feminist, in which Rose Lewenstein satirises the modern definition of feminism and the complex reality of the word, in a fiery comedic back-and-forth. In all, this small book showcases big ideas on the lives of women, with stories which will resonate with modern audiences and students, regardless of background or gender.

The plays vary in form, content and style but remain anchored in their various interpretations of what it means to be a woman today – at least one will be perfect for your students.