Viola Tait interviewed by Michelle Potter [sound recording]

Viola Tait, singer, speaks initially about growing up in Paisley, Scotland, and her early training at the Royal Academy of Music, Scotland. She goes on to talk about her employment with the Carl Rosa Opera Company and the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. She speaks about accepting an offer from Nevin Tait to join J. C. Williamsons on a tour of Australia performing Gilbert and Sullivan works, and administrative developments within J. C. Williamsons and Australia-New Zealand Theatres. She discusses the Tait family, Minnie Everett, performing in The Dancing Years, her retirement, and her favorite roles. Tait also speaks about the purchasing of overseas shows by J. C. Williamsons, Tikki Taylor and Bill Newman, Edouard Borovansky and the relationship between the Borovansky Ballet and J. C. Williamsons, the engagement of the de Basil's Ballet Russes companies by J. C. Williamsons, the reasons behind the collapse of J. C. Williamsons, and the Sutherland-Williamson Opera Company seasons. She then speaks about the death of her husband Frank Tait, her children and grandchildren, and closes with a discussion of her collection of theatrical memorabilia, with particular reference to costume designs and the designer William R. Barnes.