The curtain is rising on a major moment for Welsh arts: Michael Sheen – the nation’s own chameleonic master of stage and screen – returns home this January to lead a new production of Our Town at the Swansea Grand Theatre. It is not only his return to live performance, but also his debut production as Artistic Director of the newly revitalised Welsh National Theatre.

The play, Thornton Wilder’s masterpiece, becomes something entirely new in Sheen’s hands. Known for portraying his roles with uncanny depth – whether political titan Tony Blair, the celestial Aziraphale, or Shakespearean kings – Sheen now turns his talents to the role of the Stage Manager, the omniscient narrator who guides audiences through the heartbeat rhythms of a small town. Few actors alive can deliver tenderness and thunder with such beautiful grace, and in Our Town, Sheen does exactly that.

Adding a further spark is the involvement of Russell T Davies, one of Wales’ most celebrated storytellers, who joins as Creative Associate. Under the direction of Francesca Goodridge and with an all-Welsh ensemble, this production reframes Wilder’s 1901 tale of community, love, and loss through a distinctly Welsh lens.

The show will run from 16 to 31 January 2026, and tickets are already vanishing at speed.
🎟️ Secure tickets at Swansea Grand Theatre while seats remain.

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A WEEKEND IN THE CULTURAL HEART OF SWANSEA BAY

Audiences travelling to Swansea for the production will find that Swansea Bay is a haven for lovers of literature and history.

Walk in the footsteps of Dylan Thomas, Swansea’s poetic son, at the Dylan Thomas Centre, then venture to the writer’s birthplace – now a beautifully preserved home where visitors can literally sleep inside a piece of literary history. A short stroll through the city’s Maritime Quarter reveals the places that shaped his imagination, turning the town into an open-air chapter of Welsh storytelling.

For art aficionados, the city offers a wealth of galleries and museums:

Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, a jewel box of contemporary and classical works.
Swansea Museum, Wales’ oldest museum, houses everything from local curiosities to an Egyptian mummy.
The National Waterfront Museum explores 300 years of industry through interactive innovation.
Independent gems like Gower Gallery and the Lovespoon Gallery celebrate Welsh tradition and seascape-inspired creativity.

Whether you’re catching Michael Sheen in Our Town or exploring Swansea’s cultural highlights, January is the perfect time for a winter escape.

Featured image courtesy of Roxhill Media

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