Michael Sheen, the Hollywood actor, has vowed to fill the void left by the closure of National Theatre Wales by financing a new theatre company. Sheen will be the artistic director of Welsh National Theatre, which will focus on “big stories on big stages for big audiences.” Welsh National Theatre will be launched with a production in the autumn of 2026, with Michael Sheen leading the cast.
Sheen’s new venture is seeking both public and private funding, anticipated to be enough to cover initial expenses. Sheen has vowed to ensure that the Welsh National Theatre will stand “on its own two feet.” Sheen stated that the new company would have “Welsh theatre makers, Welsh stories and Welsh actors” at its core. Working with other theatre makers is also on the table.
Despite the sadness caused by National Theatre Wales’ closure, Sheen feels inspired to take action. He said: “If we don’t find a way to reimagine the way forward, it may be a long time – if ever – that we have the opportunity to have a national theatre in Wales again.” Senedd Sports and Culture Committee reported yesterday that Wales is near the bottom of the league table in public spending, which Sheen responded to by announcing his plans.
The actor has spoken at length in the past about his love for originating projects in his home country, Wales. Speaking before, he expressed that Welsh stories must be the heart of any project in Wales. His fame and star power gained through roles such as his teacher in National Theatre Wales’s first and best-known production ‘The Passion,’ will no doubt be beneficial in his quest to attract both public and private funding.
The Welsh government recently raised the cultural sectors’ funding in its draft budget for 2025-2026 and worked with Arts Council Wales to establish a £3.6m jobs fund for the sector. Arts Council Wales has also previously provided National Theatre Wales with funding to restructure its operations and is now excited to see how Welsh National Theatre will develop its new creative programs
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