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Story: Plays and playwrights

Capping revue, 1938

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Capping revue, 1938

University capping revues (satirical variety shows staged alongside graduation ceremonies) featured some of the country's most biting and adventurous theatre in the mid-20th century. This poster advertises Victoria University's 1938 Cappicadeat the Wellington Opera House. Its main element was the production Olympian nights, which featured 'hairy fairies' and an anti-fascist theme. Like much of the best Cappicadematerial, it was written by Ron Meek, a law and economics student who later became a distinguished political economist in the UK. 

Using this item

J. C. Beaglehole Room, Victoria University of Wellington Library

Reference: Arc VUW Z7 E96

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How to cite this page

Murray Edmond, Plays and playwrights – Plays of the mid- and later 20th century, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/ephemera/43946/capping-revue-1938 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Murray Edmond, published 16 January 2014.