Michael Sheen to represent the Welsh Prince “emblematic” Owain Glyndwr

Actor Michael Sheen said he would play Owain Glyndŵr, the last prince of Wales of Welsh origin, in a new theatrical production.

Owain & Henry will tell the story of the rebellion of Glyndŵr against English domination in Wales in the 15th century, in one of the first productions announced by the Welsh National Theater, Sheen’s Own Theater Company.

Glyndŵr has become a figurehead for Welsh nationalism and there are statues, monuments, pub and street names across Wales.

Sheen, who previously said that the royal family should abandon the title of the Prince of Walessaid as glyndŵr that he would portray “the emblematic Welsh prince”.

“Owain & Henry is one of the original stories of our nation, as relevant in today’s complex world as when Glyndŵr said Wales six hundred years ago,” said Sheen, who is Port Talbot in the south of Wales.

The play will be played at Wales Millennium Center in Cardiff in November 2026, which co -producing.

Sheen, who as an actor is best known to transform himself into characters such as Prince Andrew, David Frost and Tony Blair, said that he was “incredibly excited”.

“This is the play that tells the exact story I want this national theater company to tell, on the second largest scene in Europe,” Sheen told BBC News.

Owain glyndŵr Has encouraged a 15 -year -old revolt against the reign of King Henri IV and claimed the title of 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 combat and his head sent to Edward I, the English king.

Edward I then invested his son Edward II as Prince of Wales, and since then, the title has usually – but not always – has been given to the apparent heir.

In 2020, Sheen told the chronicler of the newspaper Owen Jones that when the time came from the title of the Prince of Wales to be delivered from Charles to William, “it would be a really significant and powerful gesture for this title to be held in the same way as before”.

Owain & Henry would be the first time that the story of Glyndŵr has been tackled by a playwright for a large -scale production, with the prince as the main character.

The writer of the play, Gary Owen, said that when he started writing history, was his “dream cast” – but he had never imagined that it became a reality.

“I have said for years that we have to do these great shows here in Wales. We have to connect with a general public,” said Owen.

“And now I have to do it. So it’s a pressure but it’s a very welcome pressure.”

Sheen said he had been a “big fan” of Owen’s work for years, calling him “one of the greatest writers who ever produced”.

“There will be people who will come on this subject who have never heard of Owain Glyndŵr, have no idea what history is, the importance of this moment in our culture.

“And it starts a conversation, you know, it starts a national conversation.”

Sheen has announced that he was funding the National Theater Welsh in January to fill the lake left by the Folding of the Wales National Theater.

The company, which received £ 200,000 in transitional financing from the Council Wales arts, also announced a Welsh spin on the classic American game our city, with the writer Doctor Who Russell T Davies as a creative association.

Our city, co-produced with Kingston-Upon-Thames Theater Theater, will do a Swansea, MLUD, Llandudno and Kingston-Upon-Thames tour between January and March 2026.

The Welsh National Theater said that he also instructed four Welsh writers to create parts of “national meaning”, and created a network of talent scouts to find and develop new Welsh talents.

“When I played football on a field next to the A48 in Port Talbot, I always knew that there was the possibility that there is someone standing on the touchline,” said Sheen.

“The local populations who were the eyes and ears of the big clubs. There was always the potential you could find yourself in Man United or in Liverpool.

“And I have always thought, why is there not a similar system for the arts, for the theater? So I try to create this and use the national theater theater Company as the type of engine for that.”

Sheen said that “many people are in contact” to support the Welsh national theater since his announcement – including his colleague actor of Gallic Hollywood origin, Matthew Rhys.

“I had a nice message from Matthew,” said Sheen.

He said that people had also shown support from other ways, especially by a surprise donation sent to his parents.

“The envelope has just said” the brilliant actor Michael Sheen “. And it happened to my parents. And inside, he said” what you are doing with the National Theater Welsh – Think it’s great. Would support him “.

“And I keep (the check) in my pocket,” said Sheen.

“I walk with it now.”