July 8, 2025

Moe mai rā, Rodney Bane

From BATS Theatre
This newsletter begins on a meaningful and heartfelt note, as we share the sad news of Rodney Bane’s passing. 

In the late ’70s, he and David Austin started the Bane Austin Touring Society (BATS) staging controversial plays out of their own pockets. One featured a gay cannibal. Another got them banned by a local vicar. They were proud of that.

Without Rodney’s determination, generosity, and belief in the power of theatre, thousands of performances would never have found a home.

As Cathie Sheat, Chair of the BATS Board, shared: “Rodney Bane was a stalwart of the Wellington theatre community who will be sorely missed. BATS owes Rodney and David Austin eternal gratitude for forming BATS Theatre and keeping it alive for ten years before the current establishment took over. They had a vision of making theatre more accessible for emerging artists and providing a platform for practitioners to experiment and build their careers. A vision which is still at the heart of the BATS Kaupapa.”

With the passing of both Rodney and Dave, we have lost the two foundational forces behind our Theatre. But the spirit they ignited continues to burn brightly in every artist who dares and every audience member who leans in.

Rodney’s legacy is imprinted in the very bones of BATS. 

Moe mai rā, Rodney. 

This from Stagecraft:
We are saying goodbye to Rodney at 2pm on Friday (11 July) at Lychgate, on the corner of Aro and Willis Streets and all his historical, tragical and comedic friends will be there. Join us!