WELSH NATIONAL THEATRE: Michael Sheen and Pontypridd’s Callum Scott Howells to lead Amadeus in West End transfer

Michael Sheen’s Welsh National Theatre is heading to the West End for the first time, with the Port Talbot actor leading a major production of Amadeus alongside Pontypridd star Callum Scott Howells.

Sheen will play composer Antonio Salieri opposite Howells as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Peter Shaffer’s celebrated play, which opens at the New Theatre in Cardiff in March 2027 before transferring to London the following month as part of the company’s 2027/28 programme.

It marks a full-circle moment for Sheen, who first played Mozart in the late 1990s to major acclaim in London and on Broadway, before later taking on the role of Salieri at Sydney Opera House — making him the first major star to play both lead roles in the production.

Sheen, who is the Welsh National Theatre’s artistic director, said the casting felt personal. “To play Salieri opposite a fellow Welshman as Mozart — a role that has meant so much to me — feels very special indeed,” he said.

“I directed Callum in my television drama The Way — he’s an extraordinary talent who deserves this stage and audiences should be excited for what’s to come.”

Howells, who won the Bafta Cymru for best actor in 2021 for his portrayal of Colin in Channel 4’s It’s a Sin, last appeared in the West End in Cabaret in 2022-23. He also stars in Madfabulous, about a wealthy and eccentric 19th century Welsh aristocrat, which is due for release in June.

It’s a Sin was created by Swansea-born writer and producer Russell T Davies, the BAFTA-winning television dramatist behind Doctor Who, Queer as Folk and Years and Years. The show, which followed a group of gay men living through the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 90s, was Channel 4’s most-watched drama series at the time of its release and earned widespread critical acclaim — with Howells’s performance as the quietly devastating Colin Morris-Jones widely regarded as the show’s emotional heart.

Set in 1820 Vienna, Amadeus follows Salieri — a respected court composer — who becomes consumed by jealousy over Mozart’s genius and sets out to destroy the man he both worships and despises. The production will be directed by Jeremy Herrin.

Sheen described the West End transfer as “an important next step” for the Welsh National Theatre, which he established to fill the gap left by the folding of National Theatre Wales. The company set up its home in Swansea and opened with a powerful debut production of Our Town at Swansea Grand Theatre, which received widespread acclaim.

The Welsh National Theatre’s founding chief executive Sharon Gilburd said the company would “bring to life our vision of what an English language national theatre for Wales should be.”

The company’s full programme for the upcoming year will be revealed in May at an event with Bad Wolf, featuring classics as well as new work. It follows the acclaimed run of Matthew Rhys’s Burton play, which brought another major Welsh star back to the stage in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

Sheen, born in Port Talbot, is one of Wales’s most recognisable actors, having played a host of high-profile roles including Tony Blair, Brian Clough and journalist David Frost in acclaimed television productions.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Michael Sheen’s Welsh National Theatre opens with powerful debut of Our Town at Swansea Grand
Our coverage of the company’s landmark opening night.

Review: Our Town at Swansea Grand Theatre
Our review of the Welsh National Theatre’s debut production.

Matthew Rhys to bring acclaimed Burton play to Swansea and Neath Port Talbot
Another major Welsh star returning to the stage in our area.

Michael Sheen’s Welsh National Theatre sets up home in Swansea
How Swansea became the base for Wales’s new national theatre company.

Welsh National Theatre — all our coverage
Full archive of Swansea Bay News reporting on the company.

REVIEW: Our Town, Swansea Grand Theatre

⭐⭐⭐⭐
By Pierre Donahue

Swansea Grand was buzzing for opening night of Thornton Wilder’s classic play Our Town, the very first production by Welsh National Theatre. With Welsh cultural icons Charlotte Church, Melanie Walters, Steffan Rhodri, Luke Evans and Iwan Rheon in the audience adding a sense of occasion, the anticipation was palpable, but all eyes were on Michael Sheen. Sheen, who has single handedly driven this relaunch of national theatre in Wales, also takes the starring role here. 

Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer prize winning play first opened on Broadway in 1938, and has since become a beloved part of American theatre repertoire. It’s a tender portrait of small town America and set in New Hampshire. So it seems, on the surface, a bold choice of material for a brand new Welsh company. On explaining why this particular piece was chosen Michael said “Our Town is about life, love and community. That’s what matters to us in Wales. It’s a play that compels us to celebrate the everyday, to hold the ones we cherish.”

Opening with Sheen as the ‘stage manager’, striding alone onto the stage with the house lights up, he signifies for the lights to dim, and we begin. Wilder’s stage instructions specify ‘No curtain, no scenery’, but here they have been creative. Hayley Grindle’s production design is subtle but effective. The cast use planks of wood, step ladders and plants painting an impression of buildings and furniture and movement. It’s very physical. No doubt the cast have had to work hard in rehearsals. With Swansea natives Francesca Goodridge as director and Russell T Davies creative associate, it is beautifully staged and lit. 

It may be set in America in 1901, but it’s clear that this is a Welsh community with Welsh accents. Early Welsh settlers did move over in the 17th century, so they do exist. In fact the state of Pennsylvania has some well known areas with names such as Bryn Mawr, Bala Cynwyd, Narberth and Gwynedd that prove it. However, here it’s a somewhat awkward mix. Phrases like ‘playing ball’ and ice cream ‘soda’ make you a little unsure where this fictional town is supposed to be. 

Grovers Corners, we are told, is a place where nothing ever happens. This is comically reinforced by listing the mundane aspects of small town life. But it’s also a place where Emily (Yasemin Ozdemir) and George (Peter Devlin) are destined to fall in love. Together we learn that life is precious but fleeting. Sheen, in magnetic form here, tells us early on that some of the characters will die. But not who or when. So when we find out who it has a real emotional impact. 

Wilder originally intended for the audience to see themselves on common ground, unified by being in each other’s presence, alive at that moment. This is definitely keenly felt by me and many in attendance. This is my hometown, my people, my community, and the power of seeing this less than a mile from where I was born cannot be underestimated. My thoughts turn to my family and my loved ones and pretty soon I’m a blubbering wreck. That’s not to say it’s depressing. Far from it. It’s uplifting in its celebration of the beauty in all of our daily lives that perhaps go unnoticed. There is a line that has stayed with me “Does anyone ever realise life, while they live it..every minute?”

Is it sentimental? Yes. Is it a little dated? probably. But it holds up well. There is a clear parallel to Dylan Thomas’s play for voices Under Milk Wood. Which is perhaps no coincidence as Thomas was known to be a big fan of Wilder’s work and the two are known to have met. However whilst Thomas’s work is darker and he delves deeper into the secret lives of a town’s residents, Wilder’s is much simpler but with no less a poetic punch.

When the play first opened in 1938, Wilder wrote “Our Town is an attempt to find a value without price for the smallest events in our daily life”. In a troubled world on the eve of World War II, this was a revelation, and it seems a comfort for many. With world events taking a dark turn in 2026, it is perhaps then no coincidence that audiences may well take the same comfort from this play as I do. 

As the lights go out, I wipe the tears from my eyes and stand to applaud Michael Sheen and the cast who get a deserved standing ovation. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen something so sweet and warm and quietly devastating. I’m quite sure it will be a great success. Michael deserves immense credit for getting all of this off the ground. Theatre in Wales is in safe hands. 

Michael Sheen’s Welsh National Theatre opens with powerful debut of Our Town at Swansea Grand

The inaugural show marks a major moment for Welsh arts, with the new national company choosing Swansea as its home and Thornton Wilder’s classic as its first statement piece — reimagined through a distinctly Welsh lens.

Early production images released after opening night show sweeping ensemble choreography, intimate character moments and bold staging that blends rural textures with modern theatrical flair.

Directed by Francesca Goodridge and co‑produced with the Rose Theatre, the production features Creative Associate Russell T Davies and Executive Producer Pádraig Cusack, bringing heavyweight Welsh talent to the project.

Speaking ahead of opening night, Michael Sheen said:

“Our Town is a play about life, love and community. That’s what matters to us in Wales; that’s what matters to me. It compels us to celebrate the everyday, to hold the ones we cherish.”

The Welsh National Theatre shared the first-look images with fans on social media, writing:

“OPENING NIGHT — In celebration of the official opening of Our Town at Swansea Grand Theatre, we’ve released our first look images of the show. Doesn’t it look beautiful?”

Audiences were treated to a production that feels both timeless and rooted in Welsh storytelling tradition. Tall grass props, period costumes and atmospheric lighting create a world that shifts between the ordinary and the profound — echoing the play’s central question: “Does anyone ever realise life while they live it… every, every minute?”

The Swansea run continues until Saturday, 31 January 2026, before the production begins a major tour across Wales and into London.

It arrives at Venue Cymru, Llandudno from 3–7 February, then moves to Theatr Clwyd, Mold from 11–21 February, where tickets have already sold out. Venues are advising audiences to contact the box office for returns or book for the nearby Llandudno dates.

The show then heads to London’s Rose Theatre for a month‑long run from 26 February to 28 March, marking the Welsh National Theatre’s first major English‑stage residency.

The company says the production aims to honour the shared lineage between Wilder’s play and Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood, making Our Town a fitting first chapter for a national theatre rooted in Welsh identity.

More information about the production, cast and tour is available at the Welsh National Theatre website: https://www.welshnationaltheatre.com/our-town

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Matthew Rhys to bring acclaimed Burton play to Swansea and Neath Port Talbot
The Emmy‑winning actor returns to the Welsh stage with a celebrated production exploring Richard Burton’s life.

Matthew Rhys to bring acclaimed Burton play to Swansea and Neath Port Talbot as part of Welsh stage return

The Cardiff‑born star, best known for his Emmy‑winning role in The Americans, will perform Playing Burton, a one‑man play about the life of Richard Burton, as part of the RB100 centenary celebrations marking 100 years since the Port Talbot‑born actor’s birth.

The production, written by Mark Jenkins and directed by Tony Award‑winner Bartlett Sher, explores Burton’s rise from his South Wales roots to international stardom, his turbulent relationship with Elizabeth Taylor, and his struggles with alcoholism.

Swansea Grand Theatre dates

Rhys will take to the stage at Swansea Grand Theatre on 24 and 25 November, with both shows followed by a special Q&A alongside fellow Welsh actor Michael Sheen, who has spearheaded the creation of the new Welsh National Theatre.

Pontrhydyfen finale

The tour will culminate in a special performance at Bethel Chapel Café in Pontrhydyfen, Neath Port Talbot, on 26 November — the village where Burton was born and raised. The event will close the centenary celebrations in the community that shaped him.

Local pride in Burton’s legacy

Cllr Cen Phillips, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing, said the centenary was a chance to celebrate Burton’s enduring influence:

“Richard Burton’s career spanned decades and instilled a life‑long love of performing arts within millions. He remained proud of his Port Talbot roots throughout it all, and we hope these performances encourage and inspire more people to engage with the arts in Wales.

It feels as though Burton is passing the torch to the Welsh National Theatre to continue representing Wales on the international stage.”

Supporting Welsh National Theatre

All proceeds from the tour will go towards supporting the Welsh National Theatre, founded by Michael Sheen to create new opportunities for Welsh talent.

Rhys said returning to Wales to play Burton was deeply personal:

“The reason I wanted to act was because of Richard Burton. He blazed the trail for us all and showed us it was possible.”

Tickets

Tickets for Playing Burton are on sale now via the Welsh National Theatre website: welshnationaltheatre.com/playing-burton.

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Neath Port Talbot celebrates RB100: the Richard Burton Centenary
Trails, talks and performances mark 100 years since Burton’s birth, celebrating his legacy in the Dramatic Heart of Wales.

New Richard Burton exhibition tells the story of an international star
A major exhibition, supported by Swansea University, reveals the man behind the headlines through diaries, papers and personal objects.

#BethelChapelCafé #CllrCenPhillips #GrandTheatre #MatthewRhys #MichaelSheen #Pontrhydyfen #RichardBurton #RichardBurtonCentenary #theatre #WelshNationalTheatre

BBC News - First image of #MichaelSheen as #OwainGlyndŵr.

#Cymru #Wales #TheatrGenedlaetholCymru #WelshNationalTheatre

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyv6mqnpy4lo

Michael Sheen’s Welsh National Theatre sets up home in Swansea

The news strengthens Swansea’s connections to the company: Welsh National Theatre’s first production, Our Town, debuts at Swansea Grand Theatre from 16 to 31 January 2026.

The play, which later tours Wales before closing at co-production partner the Rose Theatre in Kingston-upon-Thames, is directed by Swansea-born Francesca Goodridge with Swansea native Russell T Davies as creative associate.

Michael Sheen, artistic director of Welsh National Theatre, said: “My theatrical journey began on the stage in Swansea as a member of the West Glamorgan Youth Theatre, so it feels fitting to come full circle to base Welsh National Theatre in the city. Swansea is a place of creativity, resilience and inspiration and I’m excited by the possibilities this presents not just for artists, but for the people of Wales.

“This isn’t about just an office space, but a cultural hub which welcomes creatives in, and we’re working on plans to make the space come alive with actors, directors, producers and writers before the work meets audiences. In just seven months, a Swansea audience will be the first anywhere in the world to see a Welsh National Theatre production live; the countdown is truly on.”

Sharon Gilburd, founding chief executive of Welsh National Theatre, added: “We see Swansea as an integral part of our future. There’s genuine heartfelt passion and commitment from the Swansea Council team to work with us so we can all help to create a thriving and innovative cultural scene — both for today and for generations to come.”

After taking to the stage in Swansea in Our Town, Sheen will play Owain Glyndŵr in Gary Owen’s epic new play, Owain & Henry, in a Welsh National Theatre and Wales Millennium Centre co-production in November 2026.

The decision by Welsh National Theatre to set up in the city has been welcomed by Council Leader Rob Stewart, who said: “This is a proud moment for Swansea. Having Welsh National Theatre based here shows how far we’ve come as a creative city. The creation of Welsh National Theatre marks a bold step in raising the profile of Welsh storytelling on a global stage — and by choosing Swansea as its home, it strengthens the city’s role as a hub for national and international creative talent.

“This brings real opportunities for those working across the performance sector — from actors to musicians, artists and writers to designers, producers and technicians — to be part of something world-class, creating new intellectual property, rooted in Swansea and rooted in Wales. Wales deserves an English language national theatre company — and we’re thrilled that, through the vision of its artistic director Michael Sheen, Welsh National Theatre has chosen Swansea as its home. The impact of hosting world-class theatre in Swansea will be transformative. It has the potential to stimulate a new generation of local talent and inspire even more visitors to come to our city.”

The announcement follows months of collaboration between Welsh National Theatre and Swansea Council to shape this partnership.

Elliott King, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights and Equalities, said the theatre’s decision reflects years of investment and collaboration that has unveiled key initiatives, such as the Creative Swansea network for professionals and businesses in the creative and cultural industries, and Grand Ambition, which creates theatre with and for local communities.

He said: “From the Swansea Building Society Arena to grassroots music and performance spaces, the many creative people who help make our local culture so vibrant, innovative and diverse also ensure it’s the best place for audiences to enjoy. Welsh National Theatre being based in Swansea will help attract even more attention to our creative industries and cultural sector. Working with schools, universities, digital trend-setters and businesses, our ambition for Swansea to make its mark on an international stage has never looked brighter.”

#CivicCentre #CllrElliottKing #CllrRobStewart #featured #MichaelSheen #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #WelshNationalTheatre

National theatre show news attracts huge attention for historic venue

The Welsh National Theatre (WNT) has just unveiled its debut season for productions across the country. The company had been established three months earlier by actor Michael Sheen.

Sheen, as WNT’s artistic director, wants to create world class work in Wales and to tour it globally, bringing together Welsh talent to create ambitious theatre and tell Welsh stories.

Its first two productions will be a new interpretation of Pulitzer Prize-winning play Our Town and epic new play Owain & Henry. Both plays will feature Sheen.

Our Town, WNT’s inaugural play, will premiere at Swansea Grand Theatre from January 16-31 next year. Tickets will go on sale soon.

The venue already attracts more than 125,000 visitors a year and now Swansea Council says it’s set for even more success.

Elliott King, council cabinet member for culture, human rights and equalities, said: “The Grand is already a fantastic venue with great shows; the decision by the WNT to come to Swansea first is another great boost for the city’s cultural scene.

“It’s brilliant for local audiences and the many creative people who help make our local culture so vibrant, innovative and diverse.

“I’m delighted the WNT has chosen the Grand for its premiere – it already has fantastic programming and support; this news brings even more confidence for the future.”

The WNT is working with a rich seam of Swansea talent on Our Town, including screenwriter and TV producer Russell T Davies and Swansea-born director Francesca Goodridge.

Goodridge’s directorial talent was spotted by Michael Sheen when he saw the production Sorter, staged at the theatre by Grand-based creative collective Grand Ambition.

The Grand’s current programme already features highly acclaimed shows, including Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke, TV’s Professor Alice Roberts and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Drifters.

There’s comedy from the likes of Julian Clary, music from The Bon Jovi Experience and many others, and children’s entertainment such as Bing’s Birthday.

Coming soon is another piece of new playwriting with a strong Swansea flavour, Hot Chicks, delivered by Grand Ambition in conjunction with Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre

Swansea Grand Theatre opened in 1897 and quickly established itself as a venue for the best touring companies and star names. Its fortunes dipped until the late 1960s when the former Swansea Corporation came to the rescue.

Swansea Council continues to own, manage and fund it.

#GrandAmbition #GrandTheatre #MichaelSheen #Swansea #theatre #WelshNationalTheatre