We see performance in art, on the stage, and on the screen, but what about the performance we see everyday? From the masks we wear to work, to our expressions of gender and identity. Within the realms of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, the tales and poems in this collection celebrate and explore the theme of performance. Here you will find a radio show host who invites stories of the uncanny from his listeners, a violin that sings in the aftermath of a lost war. You’ll discover the horror of suburban conformity and meet a cat who is only sometimes a cat, along with a former puppet who hasn’t quite cut his strings. A reluctantly rescued princess, rebel spies, fairies, witches, and vampires all make an appearance upon these pages. From contemplations on a gender-swapped Shakespeare character to sentient mushrooms, Shadows on the Stage presents a rich display of topics and settings that reflect the diversity of its talented twenty-six international writers in five acts.Welcome, take a seat, and enjoy the show.Contributors Include:Emry Beattie, Jo Marjoribanks, Bob Beagrie, Eleanor McMahon, Megan Nicholls, Lily M. Frenette, Marco Etheridge, Olivia Thomakos, Claire Wallace, Lis Maestrelo, Fiona Black, Rory MacCallum, Charlie Hilton, C.H. Lei, Sofia Reyes Valencia, Milly Sweeney, Barlow Crassmont, Alice Eaves, Douglas Thompson, R.M. McRitchie, Claira Wilson, Gabriel Munro, Claudia Wysocky, Nadine Brito, Emily Arnold-Fernández, Ailsa Fraser
