Bill Sheat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Sheat
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Sheat in 2018
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| Born |
William Newton Sheat
1 May 1930 Hāwera, New Zealand
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| Died | 20 January 2021 (aged 90) Lower Hutt, New Zealand
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| Alma mater | Victoria University College |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Known for | Arts advocacy |
| Relatives | William Sheat (father) |
William Newton Sheat (born May 1, 1930 – died January 20, 2021) was a New Zealand lawyer. He was also a huge supporter of the arts. He helped create many important arts groups. These include the New Zealand Film Commission, Creative New Zealand (which used to be called The Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council), and Downstage Theatre. He was known as Bill.
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Early Life
Bill Sheat was born in 1930 in Hāwera, a town in Taranaki, New Zealand. His father, also named William Sheat, was a member of parliament. Bill grew up on a dairy farm. He went to primary school in Pihama. Later, he attended boarding school at New Plymouth Boys' High School.
In 1948, Bill went to Victoria University College. He studied arts and law there. He joined the university's drama club. He acted and wrote for the annual skit show. This led to him producing and writing plays, which he continued for many years after he finished university in 1953.
Bill's Career
Throughout his life, Bill Sheat worked as a lawyer. At the same time, he was deeply involved in theatre and other performing arts. He served on the boards of many arts organizations. He often held important roles, like being the chairperson. He also continued to act and direct plays sometimes.
Bill was part of many big changes in New Zealand theatre. This happened as professional theatre started to grow in the 1960s. He helped with Downstage Theatre, which was New Zealand's first professional theatre. He also helped set up a government funding group, the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. He was involved with Playmarket, which helps New Zealand playwrights. He also helped start the national drama school, Toi Whakaari. Bill also pushed for New Zealand to have its own film industry. He helped create the New Zealand Film Commission to support New Zealand films.
His Work as a Lawyer
Bill Sheat became a solicitor (a type of lawyer) in 1953. He became a barrister (another type of lawyer) in 1954. He kept working as a lawyer until 2013. In 1957, he joined a law firm that later became Gibson and Sheat in 1966.
Bill became an expert in transport law. For 30 years, he was the legal advisor for the New Zealand Road Transport Forum. He also specialized in entertainment law, including protecting creative works (intellectual property). He helped set up many charitable trusts for arts organizations. These trusts helped these groups manage their money and legal matters.
His Love for the Arts
Theatre was a passion for Bill Sheat ever since he joined the drama club at university. At the club, he acted in plays. He also wrote and directed shows. Later, he became involved with the Wellington Repertory theatre company. He directed many plays and acted in them too.
In 1963, Bill was chosen to be on the drama panel of the new Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. This council was set up by the government to support professional artists. It also aimed to make arts more available to people across New Zealand. This organization is now called Creative New Zealand. Bill later became the Chair of the council and stayed until 1972.
Bill was also invited to early talks about creating Downstage Theatre. This was New Zealand's first professional theatre. He was known for his practical ideas.
From 1973 to 1975, Bill was the president of The New Zealand Theatre Federation. This group represents community theatre. He was later made a life member, which is a special honor.
Bill Sheat, along with John O'Shea, strongly supported creating a local film group. They wanted it to be like the film commissions in Australia. Bill was the first Chair of the New Zealand Film Commission when it started in 1978. Before that, he led a group that worked to create this film body. He remained chair until 1985.
Bill also chaired other important arts groups. These included the Royal New Zealand Ballet and the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand Trust. When Toi Whakaari: The New Zealand Drama School started in 1970, Bill was the first Chair of its Board. He was also the founding chair of the NZ Film Festival Trust. He was an executive member of Playmarket, which helps playwrights.
Three important performing arts venues in Wellington owe a lot to Bill Sheat. These are the Hannah Playhouse, the Opera House, and the Embassy Theatre. Bill was part of Downstage Theatre when the Hannah Playhouse was being planned and built. In the 1970s, the Opera House was going to be torn down. Bill was part of a group that saved it. Years later, the Embassy Theatre was also at risk of being demolished. Bill was Chair of the Embassy Theatre Trust from 1990 to 2007. During this time, it was saved and renovated.
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The Hannah Playhouse
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The Opera House
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Embassy Theatre
Awards and Honours
Bill Sheat received several important awards for his work in the arts.
- In 1973, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was for his services to the arts.
- In 2011, he was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM). This was also for his services to the arts.
He also received the Mayor's Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre in 2009. This was given at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. In 2010, Victoria University of Wellington gave him a Hunter Fellowship. This recognized his outstanding contributions. In 2019, Bill Sheat was named a Wellington Icon at the Wellington Gold Awards.
Personal Life and Death
Bill Sheat married Genevieve Mary Leicester in 1956. She was born in 1932 and passed away in 2008. They had two sons and one daughter. His wife also supported theatre and worked in the legal field.
After a short illness, Bill Sheat died in Lower Hutt on January 20, 2021.
