Nye is among the 12 new productions announced by National Theatre; it will open next February. More below:
A play charting the life of Nye Bevan and his battle to create the NHS is among 12 new productions that have been announced by the National Theatre.
Nye, by Tim Price, was described by the National as a “Welsh fantasia [that] is both epic and deeply personal”. It will star Michael Sheen and be directed by Rufus Norris, the National’s artistic director who’s stepping down in 2025.
“After the turmoil of recent years, we all appreciate how vital the NHS is,” said Norris. The play would “illuminate the life of its founder and celebrate its centrality within British life”.
Bevan, a miner’s son from south Wales, was the architect of the 1948 National Health Service Act that allowed people access to medical diagnosis and treatment, free at the point of use. The creation of the NHS is considered the most significant reform in the history of the Labour party.
Nye will open in February 2024.