His career in the arts spanned more than 60 years and in that time he was involved with just about every aspect of the performing arts in Wellington. He played a leading role in the construction of the Hannah Playhouse (which later became Downstage), chaired the Embassy Theatre Trust and the New Zealand Film Festival Trust, and was influential in saving the Embassy Theatre and Opera House from the wrecking ball. Sheat was pivotal in setting up the New Zealand Film Commission, serving as its inaugural chair for seven years.
ROSA WOODS/Stuff
Bill Sheat, a stalwart of Wellington s arts and film industries, was honoured at the 2019 Gold Awards.
Wellington.Scoop
William (Bill) Sheat, who died in Lower Hutt this week, completed more than seven decades as an innovative leader in the creative arts, not only in Wellington but also throughout New Zealand.
His exceptional record included chairing national and regional performing arts institutions as well as spearheading the preservation of two of Wellington’s most iconic theatres. He advocated passionately for a living wage for artists, and provided pro bono legal advice to countless artists and organisations. Without his commitment and contribution, New Zealand’s cultural assets would not be what they are today.
Bill Sheat’s creative work began as a student in Wellington in 1948, when he joined the Victoria University Drama Club for which he produced and directed university extravaganzas and revues from 1949 till 1967. He was president from 1950 to 1953.
ROSS GIBLIN/STUFF
Peter Frater s 59-year career as a theatre technician and Wellington Opera House doorman came to an abrupt end thanks to an impersonal email from the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency.
Saving Wellington’s Opera House and Embassy Theatre is just a small part of the legacy created by Bill Sheat. The Lower Hutt lawyer and arts stalwart died on Wednesday, January 20, after a short illness aged 90. As well as saving two of Wellington’s most important buildings from the wrecking ball, Sheat wil be remembered for his massive contribution to the arts over a 60-year period.
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MONIQUE FORD / STUFF/Stuff
At last year s Performance Arcade on the Wellington waterfront, South Korean performance group MULJIL and members of the refugee community performed in tanks filled with water.
As 2021 slowly wakes, we can look forward to a parade of festivals making the most of Wellington’s one reliably clear weather patch. While much of the world struggles with lockdowns and social distancing, Wellington’s free events programmes encourage the opposite. Later this month, the programme is released for
What if the City was a Theatre? a new city-wide performance series across February and March encouraging us “to rethink the limits of public space”. It’s the work of ever-innovative waterfront live arts festival Performance Arcade, which will also once again spill voluminously out of shipping containers.
Wellington.Scoop
Two Wellingtonians have become Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit in today’s New Year Honours List:
Sue Chetwin, for services to consumer rights.
Having begun her career in journalism, Ms Chetwin was editor of the Sunday News from 1994 to 1998, the Sunday Star-Times from 1998 to 2003, and founding editor of the Herald on Sunday from 2003 to 2005. As Chief Executive of Consumer New Zealand from 2007 to 2020 she successfully campaigned for many important consumer law reforms, including prohibitions on unfair contract terms, fairness in consumer credit contracts, country of origin labelling, and controlling door knockers. She has led other successful campaigns on behalf of consumers including calling for mandatory standards for sunscreens, helping to regulate mobile truck shops, and calling out businesses on misleading claims such as greenwashing. Her commitment to consumer rights have contributed to New Zealand having a strong consumer protection ethos