Michael Sheen to Self-Finance New National Theater in Wales, Serve as Artistic Director

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Michael Sheen is self-financing a new national theater in his native Wales.

Actor Neil Gaiman, David Tennant, and Michael Sheen plan to establish a theater company as a replacement for National Theatre Wales, which will be shut down in 2024 due to a £1.6 million ($1.96m) funding cut.

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Neil Gaiman, David Tennant, and Michael Sheen are starting a new theater company following the closure of National Theatre Wales, which is scheduled for 2024 due to a significant reduction in funding amounting to £1.6 million ($1.96m).

Sheen is appointed as the artistic director of the Welsh National Theater, where she intends to appear in its inaugural performance, scheduled for autumn 2026 on the stage of Cardiff’s Millennium Centre.

The actor expressed that the shutdown of National Theatre Wales was “deeply unfortunate, yet not entirely unexpected,” and it prompted him to seek a solution. “[I came to understand] if we don’t devise a new approach for the future, it might be a while, perhaps never, until we get another chance to have a national theater in Wales again.

He went on to say, “I want it to express the deep-rooted culture we’ve always had in our nation. To clarify, our company aims to secure both private and public investment, but for now, we plan to self-fund to ensure we can operate independently, much like a self-reliant individual.

Our goal is to both satisfy our own desires and captivate the global audience. I aspire to convey grand narratives on expansive platforms, reaching massive crowds.

Known for his lively performances on the U.K. stage, Sheen was recognized with awards for roles in Hamlet, Henry V, and Caligula. In 2011, he appeared in one of National Theatre Wales’s early productions, titled The Passion.

Between February and June of 2024, Sheen played Aneurin Bevan, the founder of NHS, in the play titled “Nye“, written by Tim Price and directed by Rufus Norris. This production was staged at the Wales Millennium Centre for a brief time. The positive response to “Nye” motivated Sheen, as it was jointly produced by the National Theatre and the Wales Millennium Centre.

Sheen emphasized that Welsh authors and playwrights should lead the way in this regard. Moreover, the essence of our Welsh tales should be central to it all,” Sheen continued. “I believe if you approach this with determination and boldness, infused with creativity and novel ideas, then the audience will embrace it.

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2025-01-10 13:25