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Papers of Jim Sharman, circa 1940-2008 [manuscript]
Bib ID 4579845
Format ManuscriptManuscript
Author Sharman, Jim, 1945-
Access Conditions Part available for research; part requires permission for research until 2020. Not for loan. 
Description [ca. 1940-2008] 
30.95 m. (71 boxes) + 17 fol. boxes + 13 oversized packets. 
Summary

The bulk of the papers in this collection relate to the many theatrical productions on which Sharman has worked over the course of his career. They include correspondence, including a small group of letters from Patrick White, scripts, production notes, reviews, ephemera, photographs, scrap books, costume designs and research notes. There is also correspondence with family, friends and colleagues, appointment diaries, diaries containing Sharman's writings and miscellanous papers relating to specific productions, photographs, posters and a large collection of programs. There is a small group of papers and photographs relating to Sharman's father, James (Jimmy) Michael Sharman.

Biography/History Jim Sharman has had a long and distinguished career in directing plays, musicals, films and operas, both in Australia and internationally. His early introduction to theatre was via his father, Jimmy Sharman, the legendary Australian showman. Sharman attended Randwick Boys High School, after which he studied at NIDA. His first commission, at the age of twenty-two, was a production of Don Giovanni in Melbourne. His radical new approach to the staging of this opera served to establish his credentials as an innovative new talent. Sharman went on to direct many iconic productions including Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Rocky Horror show, Chess and the opera Voss. In 1982 he was Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival of Arts, and from 1982-1983 he was Director of the Lighthouse Theatre Company in Adelaide.  Sharman established an enduring friendship with author Patrick White, directing a number of his plays. In 1984 Sharman directed the production of Richard Meale and David Malouf's opera Voss, adapted from White's novel of the same name and in 1993 he wrote and directed a documentary entitled The burning piano: a portrait of Patrick White. In 2008 Sharman published his autobigraphy, entitled Blood & tinsel: a memoir. 
Notes

Manuscript reference no.: MS Acc09/28.

Related Material Conversation with Jim Sharman; Located at; National Library of Australia Oral History collection ORAL TRC 1/969-971. 
Index/Finding Aid Note Descriptive list available (draft). 
Subjects Sharman, Jim, - 1945- - Archives.  |  Rocky Horror show.  |  Theatrical producers and directors - Australia - Archives.
Occupation Theatre producers and directors.
Terms of Use Copying of Jim Sharman's copyright material permitted for research. 
Details Collect From
MS Acc09/28 Manual Request only from Manuscript Reading Room, 2nd Floor
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