National Theatre Wales to return to Port Talbot with play about steelworks

National Theatre Wales has announced two new productions looking at the labour movement in the country.

Rachel Trezise's play We're Still Here is a piece inspired by conversations with steelworkers, union members and members of the community of Port Talbot. Last year, Tata Steel announced it would be pulling out of operations in the town, and the new play is about what happens when the steelworkers – whose jobs are at risk – come together. It will run in Port Talbot from 15 September, and will be directed by Evie Manning and Rhiannon White for theatre company Common Wealth.

National Theatre Wales will return to the town after 2011's The Passion, which starred Michael Sheen. We're Still Here will be staged at Byass Works on Old Dock Road.

The theatre's artistic director Kully Thiarai said: "We are delighted to be returning to the town this year, with a brand new production tackling a hugely important local, national and global issue, as told to us by that same community.".

NHS:70 is a joint venture by digital storyteller Lisa Heledd Jones and director Marcus Romer which will see seven different productions performed across Wales and online. Not all seven productions will be directed by Romer, with Thiarai confirmed to direct at least one.

Celebrating next year's 70th anniversary of the NHS, the creative team have invited members of the public to share their experiences of the public health system. These will form the basis of the pieces which will be performed in seven locations in Wales throughout 2018. You can contribute your memories online by clicking here.

The NHS was founded in 1948 and spearheaded by Welsh politician Aneurin Bevan.