The world abounds with stories. Myths, folktales, fantasies, mysteries and romances are conveyed to us by word-of-mouth, print, pictures, video and in other ways too. For all people, in both east and west, stories are the most primordial, most basic, form of instruction and entertainment. Every day we, also, make up our own new stories as part of our daily lives. This exhibition focuses on some of the stories that can be found within contemporary art; of course it concentrates on the kinds of story that art can best convey, and the different forms that they take. Stories in art are often closely linked with artists' own lives and experiences which, in turn, are intertwined with issues that face us all: concerns of race, gender, family relationships and identity. The 14 artists in this exhibition hail from as far afield as Europe, America, Africa, Oceania and, of course, Japan and work in a variety of media. The different works shown here give us an opportunity to consider the diversity of art, as well as the timely messages that it contains - messages that transcend regional boundaries and have the potential to make us rethink our own experiences and beliefs. There are many ways to enjoy art. "The World is a Stage" is an invitation "read" some of the tales that have been spun by artists, rather in the same way that you might read a novel, or watch a movie or play.