Sheilah Winn

Sheilah Maureen Winn (; 10 June 1917 – 27 June 2001) was a New Zealand arts patron and philanthropist. Having received a large inheritance, she used her money to support her love of the arts and particularly the theatre. Notably, she was the founding donor of the Hannah Playhouse in 1966, co-founder of the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship in 1970, and principal sponsor of the National SGCNZ Sheilah Winn Festivals of Shakespeare in Schools (SSGCNZ SWFSS) in 1992.

Early life and family Winn was born in Wellington on 10 June 1917. She was the daughter of James Alexander Hannah and Sybil Maud (née Johnson).

Her grandfather Robert Hannah was the founder of the Hannah's footwear chain, and she used her large inheritance to support her love of the arts and travel.

She lived partly in Wellington and partly in Christchurch. and they had one son. On its opening in 1973 she said: "The theatre measures up to all my expectations. It is intimate in its atmosphere and it is cosy. I feel I have something to live for." The delays and stress of building, however, led her to decide that she would in future donate to artists and art organisations directly. She was also the patron of the Downstage Theatre, the professional theatre company that occupied the playhouse until 2013, She also supported the New Zealand Women Writers' Society and the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Society. the festival was still running, and was re-named University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival (UOSWSF) since the University of Otago took over as a major sponsor. Until her death she attended the Canterbury regional competitions for the festival on an annual basis. In 1988 she was made an Officer of the Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem, and in 1992 she was made a Commander. In the same year she was presented with a Civic Award by the Christchurch City Council for her work promoting Shakespeare in schools.