In a decisive move to counter a deepening crisis in Welsh arts, acclaimed actor Michael Sheen has personally financed and launched a new national theatre company for Wales. The venture, named Welsh National Theatre, makes its ambitious debut with a major touring production of Thornton Wilder's classic play Our Town, opening in Swansea.
A Lifeline for Welsh Theatre
The creation of the company comes as a direct response to the collapse of the former National Theatre Wales, which had its funding entirely withdrawn by Arts Council Wales. This event highlighted a broader, alarming trend of devaluation for the arts in Wales. A recent cross-party report found that Wales spends less on culture than almost every other European nation, with only Greece ranking lower.
Sheen described the situation as an emergency. "It was such a tortuous journey to get a national theatre in Wales in the English language in the first place," he said. "I realised that ultimately I had to do it. I'm the one who can open doors, and I don't need to be paid." The actor, known for investing in community causes, has underwritten the initial costs to get the project moving.
Our Town: A Welsh Heart in an American Classic
The inaugural production, a co-production with the Rose Theatre in Kingston, London, transposes the essence of Wilder's fictional Grover's Corners to a Welsh context. Directed by Francesca Goodridge, Artistic Director of Cardiff's Sherman Theatre, the play features an 18-strong cast of Welsh actors – a rarity in modern theatre.
"I think it's perfect for a Welsh accent," Sheen noted, "because the language is quite lyrical, quite sing-songy." Creative Associate Russell T Davies, who worked with Sheen in youth theatre, liaised with the Wilder estate to gently ease the production "into a bit more of a Welsh idiom." Key adaptations include translating the hymns, allowing the cast to sing like a traditional Welsh choir.
Goodridge, who grew up in Swansea, sees clear parallels. "You're seeing two mums gossiping in the garden. The kids who start to fancy each other in school... It feels like where I grew up." The production will tour to Venue Cymru in Llandudno and Theatr Clwyd in Mold before its London run.
Building a New Canon for Wales
Welsh National Theatre aims to be a galvanising force with a dual mission: to create large-scale platforms for Welsh talent and to expand the Welsh theatrical canon. Sheen's vision is to "go back to basics," blending community focus with global ambition to build an audience that can, in turn, address infrastructural problems.
The opening season demonstrates this scale. Following Our Town will be Owain & Henry, a new play by Gary Owen starring Sheen as Owain Glyndŵr, and Playing Burton starring Matthew Rhys as Richard Burton. The company has secured funding from the Colwinston Charitable Trust and formed partnerships with BBC Studios and Bad Wolf to ensure resilience.
For Davies, the venture is a proud rebuttal to outdated attitudes. "In the 90s, I was told to take Welsh characters out of my writing," he recalled. "A head of drama at ITV said people don't like the Welsh. But it takes someone who's not quiet, like Michael, to lead the way."
By opening at the Grand Theatre in Swansea – close to both Goodridge's childhood home and Sheen's current base – the company is intentionally planting its flag in the community. Davies hopes it will inspire a new generation: "Now you can be 15 years old living in Swansea and seeing things happening on your doorstep." In launching Welsh National Theatre, Michael Sheen isn't just staging a play; he's attempting to rebuild the foundation for Welsh storytelling for decades to come.
