Act Normal by Mark Wheeller

There may no longer be a need to search through piles of plays or scour the internet to find the perfect monologue. Mark Wheeller's Act Normal offers 30 contemporary monologues from his works of plays and musicals for a range of abilities, genders and ages. In fact, he specifically states, ‘the age of the performer should be no barrier’, which is music to a teacher's ears if they are juggling various year groups.

With a quick flick through, it is easy to identify genre, characters, and context for each monologue; and with many students using this book for auditions, it feels as though Wheeller's voice is there to guide you through this preparation with direction on tone, sub-text and movement. The monologues provide detailed stage directions, which could be considered limiting in terms of creative exploration but is suitable for guiding students.

I particularly liked the chance for young actors to research the true stories behind the text, as most are verbatim, meaning there are articles and interviews to be explored for deeper understanding and characterisation. And the topics and themes are linked to a lot of the PSHE syllabus, for example: drink driving, drugs, eating disorders and mental health.

There are some great monologues here for dedicated and courageous students to undertake. Too Much Punch For Judy (monologue 3) is a serious and longer piece. Entangled in this verbatim speech is a lot to unpick in terms of intentions and the journey of emotions.

Elsewhere, Graham's monologue in Graham-World's Fastest Blind Runner (monologue 2), is a short speech that offers a lot of emotional and physical consideration. Don't let the length fool you: this could be one of the most demanding monologues. But with such fragility, Wheeller has chosen a unique and touching story for a performer to unravel.

Short and sweet, and at times heart-breaking, Act Normal includes a range of emotional opportunities that young performers can experiment with. Whether you want to laugh, cry, or throw yourself into a soliloquy, this book offers something for everyone.