Five great plays that showcase interesting character development

The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster

Synopsis: The Duchess of Malfi is a 1612 tragedy where the Duchess of Malfi is widowed and decides to re-marry Antonio, a man who is below her in class. Ferdinand and the Cardinal, her brothers, plot to kill her for fear of her autonomy and their loss of inheritance. The Duchess and her children are murdered by order of Ferdinand, while Antonio and her eldest son escape, and he becomes the heir to her fortunes.

Why it's great: The Duchess offers a complex and strong role for a female actor, as she must navigate her calculating and Machiavellian brothers, as well as her own hopes and fears. She develops as a character throughout the play by making bold moves for a woman of her time. Even in her final moments the Duchess is composed, resilient and powerful, as she welcomes her death. The brothers provide a great challenge for actors willing to take on the epitome of antagonists.

Things I know To Be True by Andrew Bovell

Synopsis: Things I know To Be True examines the struggles we go through in life and how we may choose to share or hide it from our family. We meet the Price's, through the play the children, now grown up, must confront and share the struggles they are going through in their lives. The play ends with Fran passing away in a car accident, with the children never getting closure on their situations with their Mother.

Why it's great: This play offers some brilliant choices for monologues and moving scenes. Bob specifically allows an actor to explore polarising emotions, as he gives some comic relief in the early moments of the play, but in the later scenes he is furious with Ben, after finding out he has been skimming. This is shortly followed by his grief when Fran dies. He rips up the plants that he has spent his retired days tending to, as we see a man devastated with his wife's death.

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Synopsis: Julius Caesar is a historical drama, Caesar has defeated a great leader of Rome and is now ruling over the kingdom. However, many people have grown resentful of Caesar's popularity and growing power, so they convince Brutus to join them in plotting his assassination.

Why it's great: Brutus is an iconic role, allowing an actor to explore extreme emotions, as he is shown as a passionate protector of Rome before being a calculating and betraying friend to Caesar. He descends into a war with himself and takes his life, being a tragic hero of the play. The role offers a lot for a mature and ambitious actor.

Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons by Sam Steiner

Synopsis: This play explores the concept of communicating with word limitation, as a new law is introduced in the world of the play to monitor what we say and how we speak to one another. We follow the relationship of Bernadette and Oliver who must adapt to only having 140 words a day.

Why it's great: Bernadette and Oliver's relationship battles through the lack of verbal communication they are allowed to have with one another. The challenge of this play is mainly that there are 86 scenes, ranging greatly in lengths, as we see snapshots of their relationship falling in love and out of love. However, with sharp and dynamic actors, this play can showcase the development that fleets between their chemistry, resentment and breakdown of their relationship.

The Flick by Annie Baker

Synopsis: The Flick is a dark comedy that is set in a very specific place and time, 2012 Worcester County Massachusetts. Avery, Rose and Sam work in a run-down movie theatre and find that the more time they spend together sweeping popcorn, changing the film projections and cleaning the aisles, they begin to reveal who they are outside of work hours, leading to them discussing personal battles, hopes, dreams and disappointments.

Why it's great: The play is made up of various conversations that take place in one room, a movie theatre screen. Rose and Sam go through a rollercoaster of emotions yet end up in the same position they were in at the start of the play. This provides an interesting analysis for an actor to examine, Chekhovian in style. Though they have gone on an emotional journey, their lives are still confined to an underpaid, neglected movie theatre, no closer to achieving their true dreams. Avery is the only character that has left by the end of the play when he is accused of orchestrating fraud at work. The dynamic between all three characters is volatile and delicate, it offers a great opportunity for actors to deep dive into a character's back-story and motivation.