Australia Dancing - Akers, William (Bill) (1929

Akers, William (Bill) (1929 - )

McGarry, John: Portrait of Bill Akers, Adelaide, 1964

Bill Akers was born in Sydney and began his career working in various capacities, including as a performer, choreographer and director, in radio, film and theatre. His eclectic early background included training at the Rathbone Academy of Dramatic Art and at the studio of ballet teachers Joan and Monica Halliday, a role as a child extra in the monumental film Forty Thousand Horsemen, work as an actor in radio serials, and a variety of experiences with the John Alden Shakespeare Company.

In the 1950s Akers was engaged by the Borovansky Ballet as assistant stage manager for the company and between engagements with the Borovansky company directed the staging for many plays, revues and musicals for J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd. It was during his time with the Borovansky Ballet that Akers began also to light productions. On the death of Borovansky Akers administered the Borovansky Ballet on behalf of the J. C. Williamson organisation until Peggy van Praagh arrived to direct the company in 1960.

Akers joined the Australian Ballet for its inaugural season in 1962 as the company's production director and lighting designer. He worked with the Australian Ballet until 1975 when he left to become theatre planning co-ordinator for the Victorian Arts Centre building committee. He was later appointed production director for the Victorian Arts Centre Trust but returned to the Australian Ballet in 1983 as director of productions.

Akers has lit and staged works for every major ballet company in Australia. He worked especially closely with Robert Helpmann when Helpmann was co-artistic director of the Australian Ballet and lit the works Helpmann created during his tenure of that position, including The Display, Yugen, Perisynthyon and Sun Music. He also worked closely with Maina Gielgud during her period as artistic director of the Australian Ballet and lit several of the new ballets commissioned during her time. They included Robert Ray's The Sentimental Bloke, Timothy Gordon's My Name is Edward Kelly and Stanton Welch's Of Blessed Memory, Divergence and Madame Butterfly. Akers has been the recipient of numerous awards for his achievements. They include the Chevalier de Sahamet'rei awarded to him by Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia, an AM for services to lighting, ballet and the theatre, and a Green Room Award.

In his career in the world of Australian ballet Akers has provided important administrative and production links between the Borovansky Ballet and the Australian Ballet and has been an ambassador for Australian dance around the world. His remark 'I prefer to be a man that wangles things from behind' is indicative of the nature of his career.

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