Welsh National Theatre, with artistic director Michael Sheen, announces home base plans

Welsh National Theatre will establish its first headquarters in Swansea, it has been announced.

Founded earlier this year by artistic director Michael Sheen, the company will be based in the city’s civic centre overlooking Swansea Bay. It marks the first permanent home for the newly formed national English-language theatre company for Wales.

The company’s debut production, Our Town, will open at Swansea Grand Theatre from 16 to 31 January 2026 before touring across Wales and concluding at the Rose Theatre in Kingston-upon-Thames. The production is directed by Swansea-born Francesca Goodridge, with Russell T Davies, also originally from Swansea, serving as creative associate.

Michael Sheen said the move brings his theatrical journey full circle, having started on stage in the city as a youth theatre member. He added: “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.”

The council’s leader, Rob Stewart, said the announcement underlines Swansea’s development as a creative city and creates new opportunities for professionals across the performing arts. He added that the establishment of a national English-language theatre company in Swansea has the potential to transform the cultural landscape of the city and inspire new generations of talent.

Sheen will return to the stage in November 2026 to play Owain Glyndŵr in Owain & Henry, a new play by Gary Owen co-produced by Welsh National Theatre and Wales Millennium Centre.

The move follows months of work between Welsh National Theatre and the council to secure the company’s base, building on other cultural initiatives including the Creative Swansea network and Grand Ambition, a producing partnership at the Grand Theatre.