Michael Sheen's passion project: saving Wales's national theatre through a risky gamble on his own finances.
The actor, known for his philanthropic efforts, had an "emergency situation" on his hands when National Theatre Wales collapsed. With no public funding available and the Arts Council refusing to support the new venture, Sheen stepped in with his own money to keep the dream alive. He poured in £100,000 of his own funds to get the ball rolling, alongside securing transitional funding from the Colwinston Charitable Trust.
This bold move is a testament to Sheen's unwavering commitment to community and giving back. "I'm the one who can open doors," he says with conviction. "And I don't need to be paid." The actor's vision for Welsh National Theatre is rooted in his desire to create large-scale platforms for Welsh talent, on both a national and international stage.
As Sheen navigates this uncharted territory, he's being supported by creative associate Russell T Davies, who describes him as "a man who makes things happen." Together, they're working tirelessly to bring Our Town – a classic play about community and the human condition – to life in Wales. The show will open at Swansea Grand theatre before transferring to the Rose theatre in Kingston, London.
The gamble is paying off so far, with audiences flocking to see the touring production. Sheen's drive has also inspired other theatres to co-produce big shows. "Scale is important," says Francesca Goodridge, the show's director. "We have big stories to tell."
As Welsh National Theatre takes its first tentative steps, there's a sense of hope and optimism surrounding this new venture. Will it succeed? Only time will tell. But for now, Sheen remains committed to his vision – one that prioritises community, collaboration, and giving back.
The actor, known for his philanthropic efforts, had an "emergency situation" on his hands when National Theatre Wales collapsed. With no public funding available and the Arts Council refusing to support the new venture, Sheen stepped in with his own money to keep the dream alive. He poured in £100,000 of his own funds to get the ball rolling, alongside securing transitional funding from the Colwinston Charitable Trust.
This bold move is a testament to Sheen's unwavering commitment to community and giving back. "I'm the one who can open doors," he says with conviction. "And I don't need to be paid." The actor's vision for Welsh National Theatre is rooted in his desire to create large-scale platforms for Welsh talent, on both a national and international stage.
As Sheen navigates this uncharted territory, he's being supported by creative associate Russell T Davies, who describes him as "a man who makes things happen." Together, they're working tirelessly to bring Our Town – a classic play about community and the human condition – to life in Wales. The show will open at Swansea Grand theatre before transferring to the Rose theatre in Kingston, London.
The gamble is paying off so far, with audiences flocking to see the touring production. Sheen's drive has also inspired other theatres to co-produce big shows. "Scale is important," says Francesca Goodridge, the show's director. "We have big stories to tell."
As Welsh National Theatre takes its first tentative steps, there's a sense of hope and optimism surrounding this new venture. Will it succeed? Only time will tell. But for now, Sheen remains committed to his vision – one that prioritises community, collaboration, and giving back.
what a legend! i love how he's putting his own finances on the line for this cause it shows his dedication to giving back to the community. and it's awesome to see other theatres getting inspired by his approach too 
scale is important as francesca said, but sometimes you gotta take a risk like sheen did to make something happen 
He's literally putting his own money on the line (in a good way 
) to bring this vision to life. And let's be real, it's not just about him - he's inspiring other theatres to co-produce big shows too! That's what we call community spirit! 
It's amazing to see someone with his influence and resources use them for the greater good. I'm definitely rooting for Welsh National Theatre - fingers crossed they make this gamble pay off! 
. I mean, he says "I'm the one who can open doors" and that's so true! He's not just an actor, he's also a businessman, right? 
. I hope it doesn't put too much pressure on Welsh National Theatre, though - they're still pretty new and need to find their footing, you know? 
. It's not just about putting on a show, it's about building something bigger than himself. That takes courage and leadership skills, tbh 
! Pouring his own cash into the National Theatre is no easy feat, but it shows how passionate he is about supporting the arts. And you know what's even cooler? The fact that he's not just stopping at saving one theatre, but inspiring other theatres to co-produce big shows too 
! It's all about creating those platforms for Welsh talent to shine, and I think he's on to something special here 
!
. It's great to see someone in his position using their influence and resources for good, especially when it comes to supporting Welsh talent 
. Fingers crossed that this venture will be a huge success and brings more opportunities to the community 
I'm loving how he's pouring his heart into creating a platform for Welsh talent on both local and international stages 