The only records held are those to do with Bill Sheat's direct involvement with Extravaganza productions. He has donated other collected items, which have been processed as, for example, Records of the Drama Club.
Bill (William Newton) Sheat was born in 1930 and graduated B.A. and LL.B. from Victoria University College, 1954. He was a member of the Victoria University Drama Club and of several Extravaganza productions, and has been active since in Weir House and alumni activities, and with the New Zealand Theatre Archive. He has been a Trustee of the Summer Shakespeare Trust since 1985. In 2007 he contributed to a project to re-record the music for the 1950 Extrav. 'Hollandaze'.
Bill Sheat is the son of Ella Marjorie Newtown who graduated M.A. from Victoria in 1925, and William Alfred Sheat, who also graduated from Victoria B.A. in 1920 and LL.B. in 1923, and who later became a Member of Parliament. Bill Sheat has explained that he sometimes identified himself by initials or by the pseudonym 'Shakespeare' in his drama involvement, to avoid potential embarrassment for his father.
Bill Sheat was directly involved with several Extravaganza productions in the 1950's and has collected material to do with other later productions. He assisted with historical research into student revues by Dr. Moira Smith.
Full title: "Extravaganza 1957, production script, 'Up the Poll', a Sheat-Rich Production". Contains annotated script, stage, music and lights prompts.
I page rehearsal schedule and notes for 1958 Extravaganza 'The PAYE Off', signed David Wilson Extrav. Controller 'Any enquiries should be made to me - don't worry the Producer, he'll probably develop stomach ulcers without having you worrying him'.
Related: Extravaganza recordings intended for radio broadcast, 1949-1950
Information transcribed from cassette covers. Tape 1: Side A - Overture; Act 1 Scene 1 - Cabinet Room; We are the lasses; Duet for Snatch(?) & Pam; Fungus Song; Duet Walter & Long John. Act II Scene 1 - Death in Nationalia(?); opening chorus act 2. Tape 2: side A Jubileevit (cont.).
These tapes were loaned by Dr. Moira Smith for preservation copying.
A preservation copy has been created.
Information transcribed from cassette covers. Side A - We've got to put on a show for the tourists; Ladies of the harem; Way down in old Shagdad; I was the Mayor of upper Hutt; Genie with the light brown hair; Oh no, I was never down-hearted; We're the girls from St. Vitus; I left my heart at the butcher's
Side B - I'm the leader of the cannibal people; Has anyone here seen Oloowu?; Make love jungle style; Now fellows, off we go; Finale. 'Missing: Once upon a time and a half Also missing ; Cant get a girl to practise on; I'm not Mary quite contrary'
A copy is held on DVD.
This tape was loaned by Dr. Moira Smith for preservation copying. Information transcribed from cassette cover: Sidarella 1951. Recorded 19/5/51 by W. Jones (original J. Gannaway).
A single LP recorded on two sides. The sides are labelled only '1958 The PAYE Off' and '1958 The PAYE Off Side 2'.
This LP is very scratched and should not be played. Attempts to create a digital copy have been unsuccessful, despite the assistance of the Sound Officer and use of equipment at National Library of New Zealand. Once resources permit, the creation of a preservation copy using laser turntable technology should be attempted.
LPs recorded on four sides with common central label. Dialogue and lyrics: William N. Shapeskeare & Terry Browne. Additional lyrics: John Sadleir. Pat Harrington's Orchestra. Produced by Terry Browne.
Side 1: Overture: TYPICAL DAY - Dave Levesque, Peter Coates, Des Deacon, Julian Watts, Lyn Catley, Judy Wiggs, John Koolman & Inebriated Chorus; TAPU - Elizabeth Beck & Native Chorus; FAREWELL, KURI PUKU BAY - Peter Coates, Lyn Catley, John Koolman & Chorus; THIS OLD CAR - Gwen Catley, Peter Coates, John Koolman, and Henry Ford Snr; BUSY DOING NOTHING - David Lind-Mitchell & Tony Chapple. Side 1 Centre rim label: 'Recorded in high fidelity with top pre-emphasis and across-the-bottom defrost. This is a stereoscopic pressing. Use only Polaroid sapphire. Delicious served with food. Recorded by Nordmeyer process (patent pending).'
Side 2: BE A CROOK - Des Deacon, Julian Watts, Sharon Thompson, Bill Kitching; GET LOADED WITH TAIPO - Chorus; HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR - Dave Levesque,; THE HON. THE PRIME MINISTER - David Lind-Mitchell; GOD DEFEND NEW ZEALAND - (Browne-Bracken)- Chorus; MR. WONDERFUL - David Lind-Mitchell & Mike Gibbs; HOME TOWN - Lyn Catley, Peter Coates, John Koolman; PLAI WAY - Chorus. Side 2 Centre rim label: 'Music for listening to Beethoven's Fifth for people who don't like Beethoven's Fifth. Marginal overload capacity with double-dipped air-glo with fordomatic fluid drive.'
Side 3: GET LOST - David Lind-Mitchell & Chorus; WALTER'S IN THE LURCH - David Lind-Mitchell & Chorus; ENTR'ACTE; THAT'S WHY THEY CALL ME VESPA VAMP - Sharon Thompson; A DINKUM KIWI TYPE - John Koolman & Chorus; COME GET ON YOUR WAY - Chorus. Side 3 Centre rim label: 'Recorded for Armour T. Mitchell Productions in cycloramic sound containing Chlorophyll. Do not expose this record to any inflammable or explosive substance. Play at your own risk'.
Side 4: N.Z.R. SEQUENCE - Terry Browne; THINK ABOUT THE GAME - Mike Leacher, Bruce Robinson, Charles Smith, and V.U.W. Senior A (Jubilee Cup Winners 1958; 1959-?); IT'S A TYPICAL DAY (Reprise) - Chorus; EVERYTHING'S UP TO DATE IN WINDY CITY - John Koolman & Chorus; STUDENTS' EXTRAVAGANZA SONG; FINALE. Applause by Armour T. Mitchell. Side 4 Centre rim label: 'Buy the record in the economical jumbo size - does not irritate your choke or filter. Unauthorised public performance broadcasting copying of this record welcomed at the usual fee.'
A preservation digital copy was created in 2007.
Four sides, each with a central label stating 'long playing, true frequency range, microgroove recording' and details as below:
Side 1 (XT01.A): Act 1, Scenes 1,2,3 and 4 starring: Brian Hogan, Liz Barnao, Hillary Grimshaw, Phil Levy, Margo Sutherland, Des Deacon, Lorraine Mountjoy, etc. with in the background the Chorus and Orchestra
Side 2 (XT01.B): Act 1, Scenes 4, 5, 6, 7 and the Interval. With John Tannahill, Armour Mitchell, Vivian Jury, Paul Spender, Peter Coates, John Parkin, Sundry Islanders featuring Sallyanne, and the Chorus and Orchestra
Side 3 (XT02.A): Act 2, Scenes 1, 2, and 3. Featuring: John Koolman, The Peasants, Tony Night, Terry Browne (alias Peter Hitchcock), William Sheat, Jeff Stewart, The Soldiers and Guards, and of course the Chorus and Orchestra
Side 4 (XT02.B): Act 2, Scenes 4 and 5. With Everybody. Stage Manager Cyril Bustin. Sets: Peter Coates, Orchestra Conductor: Stan Dorward. Recorded and edited by Peter Hitchock [sic].
A preservation digital copy was created in 2007.
Text only as follows: 'Extravaganza 1953 Varsity presents Marsqueraid Opera House June 1-6'.
Text only as follows: 'It's Extrav. again... 4th dimensional entertainment. Marsqueraid. Produced by Jeff Stewart. Music! Spectacle! Tripe! A cast of thousands. See The Hospital Bawd in Action. See Sid and Walter in their true light. See The inside story on Wellington's Harbour Bridge. Don't miss Marsqueraid Opera House June 2nd to 6th Reserves at D.I.C. from 25th May. G. Deslandes Ltd.' [Printer].
Text only as follows: 'Varsity presents "Marsqueraid" Opera House June 1st to 6th. Reserves at D.I.C. from May 25th. Don't miss Extravaganza 1953. In Coronation Week.'
Title is printed as 'Hollandaze : : A gefuffle in eight scenes'.