Michael Sheen to portray the 'true Welsh prince' Owain Glyndŵr
"Owain & Henry is one of the origin stories of our nation, as relevant in today's complex world as it was when Glyndŵr declared Wales an independent nation six hundred years ago," said Sheen, who is from Port Talbot in south Wales.
The play will be performed at Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff in November 2026.Sheen, who as an actor is best known for transforming into characters including Prince Andrew, David Frost and Tony Blair, said he was "incredibly excited"."It's the play that tells the exact story that I want this national theatre company to be able to tell, on the second biggest stage in Europe," Sheen told BBC News.
Who was Owain Glyndŵr?
Owain Glyndŵr instigated a 15-year revolt against the rule of King Henry IV and claimed the title Prince of Wales, before Wales was reconquered by the English.More than a hundred years earlier, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd - the last prince of an independent Wales - had been killed in battle and his head sent to Edward I, the English king.Edward I then invested his son Edward II as the Prince of Wales, and since then the title has customarily - though not always - been given to the heir apparent.In 2020, Sheen told newspaper columnist Owen Jones that when the time came for the Prince of Wales title to be handed down from Charles to William, "it would be a really meaningful and powerful gesture for that title to no longer be held in the same way as it has before".
Owain & Henry is believed to be the first time the story of Glyndŵr has been tackled by a dramatist.The play's writer, Gary Owen, said when he began to write the story Sheen was his "dream casting" - but he had never imagined it becoming a reality."I've been saying for years that we need to do these big shows here in Wales. We need to connect with a big audience," said Owen."And now I have to actually do it. So it's some pressure but it's very welcome pressure."Sheen said he had been a "huge fan" of Owen's work for years, calling him "one of the greatest writers Wales has ever produced". "There'll be people who come along to this who have never heard of Owain Glyndŵr before, have no idea what the history is, the importance of that moment in our culture."And it starts a conversation, you know, it starts a national conversation."
Sheen announced that he was funding the Welsh National Theatre in January, to fill the gap left by the folding of National Theatre Wales.The company, which has received £200,000 in transition funding from Arts Council Wales, has also announced a Welsh spin on the classic American play Our Town, with Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies overseeing as creative director.Our Town will tour Swansea, Mold, Llandudno and Kingston-upon-Thames between January and March 2026.Welsh National Theatre said it had also commissioned four Welsh writers to create plays of "national significance", and created a network of talent scouts to find and develop new Welsh talent."When I used to play football on a pitch by the side of the A48 in Port Talbot, I always knew that there was the possibility that there might be someone standing on the touch line," said Sheen. "Local people who were the eyes and ears of the big clubs. There was always the potential you could end up at Man United or Liverpool. "And I've always thought, why isn't there a similar system for the arts, for the theatre? So I'm trying to create that and using the Welsh National Theatre company as the kind of engine for that."Sheen said "lots of people have been getting in touch" to support Welsh National Theatre since it was announced - including fellow Hollywood Welsh-born actor Matthew Rhys. "I had a lovely message from Matthew," said Sheen.He said people had also shown support in other ways, including through a surprise donation sent to his parents."The envelope just said 'brilliant actor Michael Sheen'. And it got to my parents. And inside it said 'what you're doing with the Welsh National Theatre - think it's brilliant. Would love to support it'."And I keep [the cheque] in my pocket," said Sheen."I walk around with it now."
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