By Maria Bregman
Michael Sheen is one of the most versatile and acclaimed actors of his generation. He has played a range of roles, from Tony Blair to David Frost, from Brian Clough to Hamlet, from Jesus Christ to Martin Luther King Jr. He has starred in films, TV shows, and theatre productions, winning awards and accolades for his performances. He has also been a vocal advocate for social and political causes, such as homelessness, refugees, and democracy.
Now, Sheen is taking on another challenging and iconic role: Aneurin “Nye” Bevan, the founder of the National Health Service (NHS). He will star in a new play called Nye, written by Tim Price, a fellow Welshman and a rising star in the British theatre scene. The play will premiere at the Old Vic Theatre in London in March 2023, as part of the theatre’s bicentenary season.
Nye is a biographical drama that explores the life and legacy of Bevan, who was born in Tredegar, Wales, in 1897, and became one of the most influential and charismatic politicians in British history. He was a leader of the Labour Party, a cabinet minister, and a champion of the working class. He is best remembered for creating the NHS, a universal and free health care system, in 1948, despite fierce opposition from the Conservative Party and the medical establishment. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Britons of all time, and a hero of the Welsh nation.
The play will follow Bevan’s journey from his humble origins as a coal miner’s son, to his rise as a socialist firebrand, to his achievements as a visionary reformer, to his decline as a controversial figure. It will also examine his personal life, his relationships with his wife Jennie Lee, his mentor A.J. Cook, and his rival Winston Churchill, and his struggles with illness, addiction, and betrayal. The play will also address the current state and future of the NHS, which is facing unprecedented challenges and threats amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the Brexit aftermath.
Sheen, who was born in Newport, Wales, in 1969, has expressed his admiration and respect for Bevan, and his excitement and responsibility for playing him on stage. He has said that Bevan is “one of the greatest Welshmen who ever lived”, and that he feels “a deep connection” with him, as they both come from the same region and share the same values. He has also said that he hopes that the play will “celebrate and honour” Bevan’s legacy, and “inspire and challenge” the audience to “protect and defend” the NHS.
Price, who was born in Tredegar, Wales, in 1979, has revealed his inspiration and motivation for writing the play. He has said that he grew up in the same town as Bevan, and that he was “always aware” of his presence and influence. He has also said that he was “moved and angered” by the recent attacks and cuts on the NHS, and that he wanted to “tell the story” of how and why it was created, and “remind people” of its value and importance. He has also said that he is “thrilled and honoured” to work with Sheen, whom he considers “one of the greatest actors of our time”.
Nye is not the first play that Price has written about Welsh history and politics. He is also the author of The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning, a play about the American whistleblower who leaked classified documents to WikiLeaks, and who has Welsh roots. He is also the author of I’m With The Band, a play about a fictional indie rock band composed of members from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and their conflicts over the Scottish independence referendum. He is also the author of Salt, Root and Roe, a play about twin sisters who decide to end their lives together, and For Once, a play about a car crash that affects a small town.
Nye is also not the first play that Sheen has performed at the Old Vic Theatre. He has previously starred in Hamlet, directed by Ian Rickson, in 2011, and in The Faith Machine, written by Alexi Kaye Campbell, in 2012. He has also starred in Frost/Nixon, written by Peter Morgan, at the Donmar Warehouse and on Broadway, in 2006 and 2007, and in The Passion, a 72-hour live performance of the Easter story, in his hometown of Port Talbot, in 2011. He has also starred in films such as The Queen, The Damned United, Midnight in Paris, and The Special Relationship, and in TV shows such as Masters of Sex, Good Omens, and Quiz.
Nye is expected to be one of the most anticipated and acclaimed theatre shows of 2023, as it combines the talents and passions of two of the most celebrated and respected Welsh artists, and as it tackles one of the most relevant and important topics of our time. It is a play that promises to be a tribute to a legend, a tribute to a service, and a tribute to a nation.