Nicolette Bethel
Shakespeare in Paradise is a theatre festival held every October in Nassau, Bahamas. Part of its mission is to develop new works and new talent for Bahamian theatre. Short Tales was established in 2018 as part of that endeavour. Short Tales is an evening of ten new plays by novice authors, directed by early-career directors. The directors work with Shakespeare in Paradise resident directors, learning the process of preparing an original piece for the stage. Writers’ work is workshopped collaboratively-the Short Tales company incorporates a mixture of veteran and novice actors, directors, and tech and stage crew. As COVID-19 kept theatres closed and prohibited live productions throughout 2020, the production-and publication-of Short Tales 2020 was challenged. In 2021, theatres in The Bahamas opened again with limited functions, and the production of Short Tales resumed. Here, at long last, is the publication!!