Bill Sheat

Career Over his career Sheat practised as a lawyer and at the same time was involved in theatre and performing arts. He was on many boards of arts organisations in various roles including chair, he continued acting and directing on occasions and he was part of many significant initiatives in theatre as the professional scene emerged in the 1960s in New Zealand. This ranged from Downstage, New Zealand's first professional theatre, to a government funding body the Queen Elizabeth ll Arts Council, to Playmarket, New Zealand agent for playwrights and setting up the national drama school Toi Whakaari. Sheat also encouraged investment in a New Zealand film industry for New Zealand films with the founding of the New Zealand Film Commission. The company changed to the current name of Gibson and Sheat in 1966. He went on to be involved with the Wellington Repertory Theatre company, directing many plays as well as acting in them. Plays he directed include The Seven Year Itch, by George Axelrod at the Grand Opera House, Wellington in 1959, and She'll be Right, at the Concert Chamber in the Town Hall in 1960. She'll be Right was devised and directed with his colleague Terry Browne.

In 1963, Sheat was appointed to the drama panel of the newly formed Queen Elizabeth ll Arts Council, later he became the Chair and remained until 1972. During the inception of Downstage Theatre, Sheat was invited to be part of the early conversations with Tim Eliott, Martyn Sanderson, Peter Bland and Harry Seresin because of his practical nature. The discussion group also included academics John Roberts, Don McKenzie, James Ritchie and playwright Bruce Mason.

From 1973 to 1975, Sheat was the president of The New Zealand Theatre Federation that represents community theatre and was made a life member.

Alongside John O'Shea, Sheat championed a local film body modelled on the Australian film commissions and was the founding Chair of the New Zealand Film Commission in 1978, prior to that he had chaired a working party to create a local film body. He stayed as chair until 1985. Other chairperson roles include the Royal New Zealand Ballet and the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand Trust. Toi Whakaari: The New Zealand Drama School started in 1970 with Nola Millar the first director, Sheat was the inaugural Chair of the Board. Sheat was also founding chair of the NZ Film Festival Trust, and an executive member of Playmarket.

Three Wellington performing arts venues that owe a lot to Sheat are the Hannah Playhouse, the Opera House and the Embassy Theatre. Sheat was part of Downstage Theatre during the commissioning and building of the Hannah Playhouse. In the 1970s the Opera House was earmarked for destruction, and Sheat was part of a group that saved it. Likewise years later the Embassy Theatre was also at risk of demolition. Sheat was Chair of Embassy Theatre Trust from 1990 to 2007 when it was saved and renovated. In the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, also for services to the arts.

Sheat received the Mayor's Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre at the 2009 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. In recognition of outstanding contribution Victoria University of Wellington awarded Sheat a Hunter Fellowship in 2010, and in 2019, Sheat was named as a Wellington Icon at the Wellington Gold Awards.

Personal life and death Sheat married Genevieve Mary Leicester (1932–2008) in 1956. She was the daughter of Wilfred Erne Leicester and Mary Mercer Leicester. They had two sons and one daughter.

After a short illness Sheat died in Lower Hutt on 20 January 2021.