Michael Sheen's boldest venture yet: Saving Wales' National Theatre
Since Thornton Wilder penned Our Town in 1938, it's said that not a day has passed without the Pulitzer Prize-winning play being performed. Michael Sheen, star of the upcoming touring production, shares his passion for the show, saying, 'Every time I read it, I feel like I've been awakened with an urgent sense of 'I have to make the most of this.''
Now, Sheen is taking this American classic to Wales, marking the launch of the Welsh National Theatre, a bold venture born from the ashes of the former National Theatre Wales. This ambitious company, fueled by Sheen's passion, aims to champion big stories on grand stages, challenging the devaluing of the arts in Wales, where funding is scarce and theatres face cuts and closures.
The Welsh National Theatre's opening night is more than just a play's debut. It's a celebration of Welsh talent and a statement of intent. Creative associate Russell T. Davies envisions a future where this production becomes a marvellous milestone, saying, 'In 10 years, we'll be having a wonderful celebration that began with Our Town.'
Sheen's drive to create this company stems from his desire to give Welsh directors and playwrights a platform. He wants to 'go back to basics' with a community-focused, globally ambitious venture, attracting and building an audience to address infrastructural issues. This includes enabling directors to step up to bigger stages and playwrights to write freely without practical limitations.
The opening season features Our Town, followed by Owain & Henry, a new play by Gary Owen, and Playing Burton, a tribute to the great Welsh actor Richard Burton, starring Matthew Rhys. Sheen's vision for the company is to rediscover Welsh plays and adapt world drama for the Welsh stage.
Sheen's collaboration with Our Town's director, Francesca Goodridge, began with a shared vision. Goodridge, drawn to large ensemble pieces, found a familiar community in Grover's Corners. She says, 'It's like seeing two mums gossiping in the garden, the kids who fancy each other, the milkman, and the routines. It feels like where I grew up.'
The play's translation to Wales involved translating hymns and adapting the language to a Welsh idiom. Davies, who directed Sheen in his teens, worked with the Wilder estate to maintain the play's integrity while making it feel Welsh. They decided to keep the essence of Wilder's work, adapting it to feel like a Welsh community in America.
The Welsh cast's exploration of the American play has been a perfect fit. Sheen praises the language's lyrical quality, perfect for a Welsh accent. Goodridge's plays, she says, are 'terrific, but I could see she was straining at the leash. So I said, why don't we do something together?'
Sheen's drive to make this company possible stems from his instinct to act when he believes something should be done. This translates into his understanding of community, a centrifugal force behind his actions. He believes that communities are essential, saying, 'At some point in your life, you'll need help, and we should all think about giving it as well.'
The Welsh National Theatre's opening show is a co-production with the Rose Theatre in Kingston, London, and it will tour Wales before finishing in London. This model, Sheen says, is inspired by the success of Nye, co-produced by the National Theatre and Wales Millennium Centre, demonstrating the appetite for big stories on big stages.
The Grand Theatre in Swansea, close to Goodridge's childhood, will host the opening night, followed by tours to Llandudno, Mold, and London. Davies emphasizes the importance of starting the production and company in Swansea, saying, 'Now you can see local actors, friends of your mums and dads, on stage, just down the road on the seafront.'
This is the essence of the Welsh National Theatre's mission: to build talent, belief, and possibility, creating a community and ambition for generations to come.
