William Davis is "an actor, director and playwright. As an actor, he has performed in a number of plays, including Songs to Uncle Scrim, The Boat and Setting the Table. His own plays include Taku Mangai and Savage Hearts, premiered in Auckland in 1994." His writes short stories and material for children. He has written and narrated twenty-two short stories for the Ears Radio Productions.
Biographical sources
- Te Ao Mārama: Contemporary Māori Writing. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 5: Te Torino: The Spiral. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1996. 171.
- www.actors.co.nz/people/downloadReport.aspx?anybodyId=494 10 April 2008.
Fiction
- "Stage Struck." Te Ao Mārama: Contemporary Māori Writing for Children. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 4: Te Ara o Te Hau: The Path of the Wind. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1994. 179-182.
- A story of Tama Rewiri’s preparation for the school show which had an unexpected outcome.
- "Ka Kite, Bro." Mana 5 (1994): 54-56. Rpt. in Te Ao Mārama: Contemporary Māori Writing. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 5: Te Torino: The Spiral. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1996. 171-175.
- A story highlighting the different expressions of grieving in the Māori and Pakeha cultures. Tama’s desire to farewell his friend in the Māori way is not encouraged by the Pakeha world of his school.
Performing Arts
- Taku Manga – My Voice. 1991. No details.
- Written and performed by William Davis in 1991. Also performed at Watershed Theatre, 1996.
- Savage Hearts. No details.
- Premiered in Auckland, N.Z. in 1994.
Reviews
Taku Mangai
- "Taku Mangai." Te Māori News November 1992: 19.