Acclaimed actor Michael Sheen, known for his roles in ‘Good Omens’ and ‘Staged’, has unveiled plans to create a new Welsh National Theatre. Sheen, who is set to return to the stage this year in the acclaimed play ‘Nye’, will initially fund the theatre company himself while seeking additional support from both public and private sources.

Sheen has pledged to perform in the company’s debut production, which is set to be staged at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff—the same venue where ‘Nye’ will be showcased in a few months time. The inaugural performance is scheduled for the autumn of 2026, with the company planning to produce a new show each year thereafter.

Sheen said: “This is a new dawn for theatre in Wales. We’ll be a home for our greatest talent, bringing them together to create ambitious theatre which makes our national story come alive. That’s what national theatres should do.

“Wales has such a rich storytelling history but our stories are underexplored in the English language, both at home and internationally. I’ve spent much of the past year on stage playing Aneurin Bevan in Tim Price’s Nye to packed houses, both in and out of Wales. Audiences have a huge appetite for our stories if we give them the chance to experience them.”

This initiative follows the closure of National Theatre Wales, which ceased operations last year due to a £1.6 million funding cut from Arts Council Wales. We hope that Sheen is able to find the public and private finance in addition to his own money to keep this wonderful enterprise going.

Further updates on the project are expected soon.