Latest news with #OurTown
Sky News AU
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Our Town: Paul Murray Live travels to Newcastle tonight 9pm
Join Paul Murray for this month's Our Town episode in Newcastle tonight at 9pm on Sky News Australia. In partnership with Harvey Norman.
Epoch Times
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
‘Our Town': The Nearly Unbearable Beauty of Life
NR | 1h 30m | Drama | 1940 Human life is meaningful only when it's relational. Only by treasuring life's moments in togetherness do birth, aging, and death become worthwhile. That's the point of director Sam Wood's film, 'Our Town' (1940), inspired by Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name.
Business News Wales
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business News Wales
Welsh National Theatre Sets Up Home in Swansea
The Welsh National Theatre has set up its first headquarters in Swansea. Founded by Michael Sheen earlier this year, the company's headquarters will be in the city's civic centre. Its first production, Our Town, debuts at Swansea Grand Theatre between 16 and 31 January 2026. The play, which later tours Wales before closing at co-production partner the Rose Theatre in Kingston-upon-Thames, is directed by Swansea-born Francesca Goodridge with Swansea native Russell T Davies as creative associate. Michael Sheen, artistic director of Welsh National Theatre, said: '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. Swansea is a place of creativity, resilience and inspiration and I'm excited by the possibilities this presents not just for artists, but for the people of Wales. 'This isn't about just an office space, but a cultural hub which welcomes creatives in, and we're working on plans to make the space come alive with actors, directors, producers and writers before the work meets audiences. In just seven months, a Swansea audience will be the first anywhere in the world to see a Welsh National Theatre production live; the countdown is truly on.' Sharon Gilburd, founding chief executive of Welsh National Theatre, added: 'We see Swansea as an integral part of our future. There's genuine heartfelt passion and commitment from the Swansea Council team to work with us so we can all help to create a thriving and innovative cultural scene — both for today and for generations to come.' After taking to the stage in Swansea in Our Town, Sheen will play Owain Glyndŵr in Gary Owen's epic new play, Owain & Henry, in a Welsh National Theatre and Wales Millennium Centre co-production in November 2026. The decision by Welsh National Theatre to set up in the city has been welcomed by Council Leader Rob Stewart, who said: 'This is a proud moment for Swansea. Having Welsh National Theatre based here shows how far we've come as a creative city. The creation of Welsh National Theatre marks a bold step in raising the profile of Welsh storytelling on a global stage — and by choosing Swansea as its home, it strengthens the city's role as a hub for national and international creative talent. '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. Wales deserves an English language national theatre company — and we're thrilled that, through the vision of its artistic director Michael Sheen, Welsh National Theatre has chosen Swansea as its home. The impact of hosting world-class theatre in Swansea will be transformative. It has the potential to stimulate a new generation of local talent and inspire even more visitors to come to our city.' The announcement follows months of collaboration between Welsh National Theatre and Swansea Council to shape this partnership. Elliott King, the Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights and Equalities, said the theatre's decision reflects years of investment and collaboration that has unveiled key initiatives, such as the Creative Swansea network for professionals and businesses in the creative and cultural industries, and Grand Ambition, which creates theatre with and for local communities. He said: 'From the Swansea Building Society Arena to grassroots music and performance spaces, the many creative people who help make our local culture so vibrant, innovative and diverse also ensure it's the best place for audiences to enjoy. Welsh National Theatre being based in Swansea will help attract even more attention to our creative industries and cultural sector. Working with schools, universities, digital trend-setters and businesses, our ambition for Swansea to make its mark on an international stage has never looked brighter.'
Wales Online
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Michael Sheen gives update on new national theatre and says 'it feels fitting'
Michael Sheen gives update on new national theatre and says 'it feels fitting' The Hollywood actor described it as a 'full circle moment' Elliott King, Swansea Council cabinet member for culture, human rights and equalities, council leader Rob Stewart, Michael Sheen, artistic director for Welsh National Theatre and Sharon Gilburd, the theatre's chief executive officer outside Swansea Civic Centre (Image: South Wales Evening Post ) Hollywood actor Michael Sheen has announced Swansea will be the new home of Welsh National Theatre. The Port Talbot actor has announced his company's first headquarters will be in the city's civic centre, overlooking the beach of Swansea Bay. It comes after it was announced that Welsh National Theatre's first production, Our Town, will debut at Swansea Grand Theatre next year from January 16 to 31. The play, which later tours Wales before closing at co-production partner the Rose Theatre in Kingston-upon-Thames, is directed by Swansea-born Francesca Goodridge with Swansea native Russell T Davies as creative associate. Mr Sheen, who is artistic director of Welsh National Theatre, said there was a special reason why Swansea had been selected. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here . He said: "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. "Swansea is a place of creativity, resilience and inspiration and I'm excited by the possibilities this presents not just for artists, but for the people of Wales. "This isn't about just an office space, but a cultural hub which welcomes creatives in, and we're working on plans to make the space come alive with actors, directors, producers and writers before the work meets audiences. In just seven months, a Swansea audience will be the first anywhere in the world to see a Welsh National Theatre production live; the countdown is truly on." Article continues below Sharon Gilburd, founding chief executive of Welsh National Theatre, added: "We see Swansea as an integral part of our future. There's genuine heartfelt passion and commitment from the Swansea Council team to work with us so we can all help to create a thriving and innovative cultural scene — both for today and for generations to come." After taking to the stage in Swansea in Our Town, Sheen will play Owain Glyndŵr in Gary Owen's epic new play, Owain & Henry, in a Welsh National Theatre and Wales Millennium Centre co-production in November 2026. The decision by Welsh National Theatre to set up in the city has been welcomed by council leader Rob Stewart. He said: "This is a proud moment for Swansea. Having Welsh National Theatre based here shows how far we've come as a creative city. The creation of Welsh National Theatre marks a bold step in raising the profile of Welsh storytelling on a global stage — and by choosing Swansea as its home, it strengthens the city's role as a hub for national and international creative talent. "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. "Wales deserves an English language national theatre company — and we're thrilled that, through the vision of its artistic director Michael Sheen, Welsh National Theatre has chosen Swansea as its home. The impact of hosting world-class theatre in Swansea will be transformative. It has the potential to stimulate a new generation of local talent and inspire even more visitors to come to our city." Article continues below And the council's cabinet member for culture, human rights and equalities, Elliott King added: "From the Swansea Building Society Arena to grassroots music and performance spaces, the many creative people who help make our local culture so vibrant, innovative and diverse also ensure it's the best place for audiences to enjoy. "Welsh National Theatre being based in Swansea will help attract even more attention to our creative industries and cultural sector. Working with schools, universities, digital trend-setters and businesses, our ambition for Swansea to make its mark on an international stage has never looked brighter."
Calgary Herald
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Review: Rosebud's Dream proves second chances worth giving
Article content Edmonton writer and musician Terry Bachynski's new musical, Dream, is very much at home in Rosebud. Article content It's a deeply personal project that tells the story of how Bachynski's father, an orphan at age 15, was rescued from the streets and a life of crime and sent to a farming community near Toronto. Article content Article content In the musical's title song, the young hero Eddie says his dream is to have a room of his own with a bed and maybe two chairs, and people who care about him. It's his way of saying he wants a loving family. His father was a drunk who beat his mother, him and his brother. The foster farms he had been sent to previously were not the family he dreamed of. They made him sleep in the barn, eat leftovers, and the abuse was emotionally scarring. Article content Article content Gran, the widow he's sent to as a last resort, not only offers him her youngest son's room but also shares her meals with him. Eddie is grateful, but he's convinced his good fortune is going to come with strings, if not at Gran's home, then in the town. Article content Article content Article content Eddie's greatest adversary is Mr. Mueller, the father of Joannie, the girl who befriends him at school and sees the damaged child beneath his streetwise facade. Eddie is able to create a new family there, but eventually must choose between them and his real family when his brother needs him to help pay off a debt to a local crime boss back in Toronto. Article content Director Morris Ertman, who has been guiding this musical for almost four years, takes a page out of Thornton Wilder's classic Our Town and uses minimal set pieces and props, and an ensemble playing folksy characters to tell this very real and moving story. He even has a character called Songwriter, who is the omnipotent narrator of Eddie's story, much like the Stage Manager in Thornton's play. Article content Article content Article content The Songwriter is underused. He plays the judge at the beginning of the show, and a town gossip called Rita, but he needs to play even more characters, and he needs to be much more of a presence. They've got a great actor in Christopher Hunt to play the manager of the local Co-op store, but this is a part the Songwriter should play, seeing how important he is to the romance that develops between Eddie and Joannie. Aaron Krogman is such a dynamic presence, he's definitely up to the challenge. Article content The character of Gran is also underused. She's such a feisty woman and a real musical theatre staple. She needs a least a couple of solos, and again, in Annette Loiselle, Rosebud is only giving us a glimpse of what this actor can do. Article content As Eddie and Joanne, Mark Kazakov and Karyssa Komar, have strong, expressive voices, so they do justice to Bachynski's songs and dialogue, but he needs to define the moment that liking turns to loving and, more importantly, their initial embrace. Eddie loathes to be touched because of something that happened to him, so when Joanne and Eddie do embrace, it should be a huge moment that deserves a song.
