Sheen comes ‘full circle’ with new theatre company
BBC
Michael Sheen says he will be self-funding the new company initially while applying for grants
A new theatre company funded by Hollywood actor Michael Sheen will be based in the Welsh city where his theatrical journey started.
Welsh National Theatre will set up its headquarters overlooking Swansea Bay in the city’s civic centre.
Earlier this year, Sheen said he was funding the new theatre company to fill the gap left by the folding of National Theatre Wales.
National Theatre Wales said it “ceased to exist” last year after £1.6m in cuts to its core funding from Arts Council Wales.
The company is seeking private and public funding, but Sheen previously said he would be self-financing it initially to allow it to “stand on its own two feet”.
He said he was “excited” the company would set up its home in a city of “creativity, resilience and inspiration”.
“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,” he said.
“This isn’t about just an office space, but a cultural hub which welcomes creatives in.”
The council said a proposed public sector hub in the city centre would enable the redevelopment of the building.
The first production, Our Town, will debut at Swansea Grand Theatre in January next year, before touring Wales.
Sheen will also take to the stage in the January production, as well as in a co-production with Wales Millennium Centre later in the year.
Colin Smith/Geograph
The new company’s first production will be performed at Swansea Grand Theatre in January
Jill Williams, founder of Class Act Theatre School in Swansea said it was an “incredible” gesture.
“It’s great that students who are training in Wales are now going to be able to think, ‘well actually, I don’t have to go to London,” she added.
Ms Williams said she hoped it would encourage people will return to the city to pursue careers in the arts.
One of her students, Alaya, 10, said: “It’s really good to get more companies about singing, dancing and acting to come to Swansea. I’ll probably go there.”
Sara, 15, said performing was her passion but “Swansea hasn’t got many opportunities.”
“But now, it will become more popular with acting and things, so that will be really good,” she added.
Jill Williams says she hopes the theatre will provide opportunities for her students to stay in Wales
Swansea Civic Centre opened in 1982 and is currently home to the county council’s chamber, as well as offices and the central library.
Council leader Rob Stewart said it was a “proud moment” for Swansea as it would offer job opportunities and attract visitors.
“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,” he said.
“It has the potential to stimulate a new generation of local talent and inspire even more visitors to come to our city.”
Sharon Gilburd, founding chief executive of Welsh National Theatre, added it would help create a “thriving” cultural scene for generations to come.
“Swansea’s got a real appetite to support culture and the arts and it feels like there’s a real renaissance here with real resilience, creativity and innovation,” she told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.
She said the company had found “an open door” with Swansea council, with an initial conversation about Our Town – on which Swansea-born Russell T Davies will be a creative associate – blossoming in to a “wider relationship”.
“Michael’s from just down the road – I can see Port Talbot almost, from the window here in Swansea Bay,” she added.
“We cannot have an expectation of receiving significant public subsidy in the current climate, therefore we have to have a model that enables us to be attractive to funders and to audiences alike.”
Richard Mylan hopes the theatre will appeal to younger people in Swansea
Richard Mylan, actor and co-director of Grand Ambition theatre group, said: “Traditionally, a lot of our arts is focused on Cardiff.”
He said he was “really glad” Swansea was chosen because there was “so much potential in this city. It’s thriving”.
“I think it’s going to kickstart a real resurgence in terms of the younger generation here in Swansea, that maybe traditionally wouldn’t want to, or feel the theatre isn’t for them.”
