Nye
by Tim Price
a co-production with Wales Millennium Centre
One man’s dream of the NHS
From campaigning at the coalfield to leading the battle to create the NHS, Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan is often referred to as the politician with greatest influence on our country without ever being Prime Minister.
Confronted with death, Nye’s deepest memories lead him on a mind-bending journey back through his life, from childhood to mining underground, Parliament and fights with Churchill in an epic Welsh fantasia.
Michael Sheen (Under Milk Wood) reprises his role as Nye Bevan in this ‘valiant and valuable affirmation of the NHS’ ( Telegraph). Written by Tim Price (Teh Internet is Serious Business) and ‘vividly directed’ ( Times) by Rufus Norris (Small Island), this celebration of the life and legacy of the man who transformed Britain’s welfare state returns to the Olivier following a sell-out run.
Other ways to watch
The original 2024 production
Online
Following its critically acclaimed debut in 2024, Nye with Michael Sheen is now available to stream on NT at Home.
Reviews
For the original production
‘A taut and fluid triumph’
The i
‘Sheen catches Nye’s lightning in a bottle’
Broadway World
‘A mighty, moving piece of theatre’
Financial Times
‘Rufus Norris directs and delivers one of his best productions to date’
Daily Express
‘Moving and totally relevant’
Mail on Sunday
Suitability
Please note: This production takes place in a hospital setting and includes references to medical conditions and procedures throughout. It contains strobe effect lighting, haze and the use of strong language.
Supporters
This original production at the National Theatre was supported by the Huo Family Foundation and Rosetrees Trust. The commissioning of this play was generously supported by the Sir Peter Shaffer Charitable Foundation. This play is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Plays Award.
Cast includes
Lee Mengo
For the National Theatre: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre) and Under Milk Wood
Michael Sheen
For the National Theatre: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Under Milk Wood, The UN Inspector, Look Back in Anger, The Homecoming and Ends of the Earth
Artistic team
Writer
Tim Price
Tim Price
For the National Theatre: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre) and Protest Song
Director
Rufus Norris
Rufus Norris
For the National Theatre: as director, credits include Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Hex, Small Island, Macbeth, Mosquitoes, My Country; a work in progress, The Threepenny Opera, wonder.land and Everyman; as associate director, credits include Behind the Beautiful Forevers, The Amen Corner, Table, London Road, Death and the King’s Horseman and Market Boy
Set Designer
Vicki Mortimer
Vicki Mortimer
For the National Theatre: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Our Generation, The Normal Heart, The Visit, or The Old Lady Comes to Call, ANNA, Follies, The Plough and the Stars, The Threepenny Opera, Here We Go, The Silver Tassie, Othello, Hamlet, Waves, Cat in a Hat, Three Sisters, The Seagull and Closer
Costume Designer
Kinnetia Isidore
Kinnetia Isidore
For the National Theatre: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre) and Our Generation (also Chichester)
Lighting Designer
Paule Constable
Paule Constable
Recent National Theatre includes: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The Confessions, Dixon and Daughters, The Normal Heart, The Visit, or The Old Lady Comes to Call and The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Co-Choreographer
Steven Hoggett
Steven Hoggett
For the National Theatre: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), The Ocean at the End of the Lane, The Light Princess and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (also West End and Broadway)
Co-Choreographer
Jess Williams
Jess Williams
For the National Theatre: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre); as associate director or associate movement director, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Beginning (also for Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch); as movement director, The Boy with Two Hearts
Composer
Will Stuart
Will Stuart
For the National Theatre: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre) and The Corn is Green
Sound Designer
Donato Wharton
Donato Wharton
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Grenfell: in the words of survivors (also St. Ann’s Warehouse, New York), Under Milk Wood, Middle and Three Sisters
Projection Designer
Jon Driscoll
Jon Driscoll
For the National Theatre: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Small Island, I’m Not Running, 3 Winters, King Lear, The Effect, People, Travelling Light, Earthquakes in London, Nation, The Power of Yes, The Observer, Gethsemane, Her Naked Skin, Fram, A Matter of Life and Death and The Reporter
Revival Co-Director
Francesca Goodridge
Francesca Goodridge
For the National Theatre: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre)
Casting Director
Alastair Coomer CDG
Alastair Coomer CDG
For the National Theatre: over 50 productions including Alterations, The Other Place, The Grapes of Wrath, Mnemonic (2024), Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), The House of Bernarda Alba, Othello, The Crucible (also West End), Blues for an Alabama Sky, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Mosquitoes, This House, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, One Man, Two Guvnors and War Horse
Casting Director
Chloe Blake
Chloe Blake
Recent National Theatre includes: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Jekyll and Hyde, Barrier(s), Hamlet for Young Audiences, The Effect and Blues for an Alabama Sky
Dialect Coach
Patricia Logue
Patricia Logue
For the National Theatre: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Dancing at Lughnasa and Romeo and Julie
Company Voice Work
Cathleen McCarron
Cathleen McCarron
For the National Theatre: The Other Place in association with A Zeldin Company, Coriolanus, Mnemonic (2024, a co-production with Complicité), Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The House of Bernarda Alba, The Confessions, Dear England, The Motive and the Cue, Death of England: Closing Time and Romeo and Julie
Company Voice Work
Tamsin Newlands
Tamsin Newlands
For the National Theatre: A Tupperware of Ashes, The Hot Wing King, Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, Jekyll & Hyde and The House of Bernarda Alba
Consultant Medical Adviser
Associate Lighting Designer
Lucy Adams
Lucy Adams
Tickets
Monday – Saturday evenings and matinees:
£25, £39, £59, £79, £99
Previews 3 – 8 July:
£20, £35, £49, £64, £79
For concessions and discounts, see Ways to save
Please note the 6.30pm start time on the following performances: Thur 31 Jul, Tue 5 Aug, Thur 7 Aug and Tue 12 Aug.
Visit our Ticketing FAQs for information on how to book, ticket exchanges and more.
Prices may change according to demand
Please note: Michael Sheen will not be performing on the following dates:
Wed 16 July, 2pm
Wed 23 July, 2pm
Wed 30 July, 7.30pm
Wed 6 Aug, 2pm
Wed 13 Aug, 7.30pm
Lee Mengo will be performing the role of Nye Bevan at these performances.
Assisted performances
Captioned
BSL Interpreted
Audio described
No Chilled performance available.
No Dementia-friendly performances available.
Relaxed performance
The interpreter for the BSL performance will be announced closer to the performance date.
Audio-described performances are preceded by a Touch Tour, 90 minutes before the performance start time. Call the Access line on 020 7452 3961 to book Touch Tours.
The Audio describers will be announced closer to the performance date.
We have an allocation of tickets held for members of our Access scheme and if any of the assisted performances above are shown as “Sold Out”, tickets may still be available: Please log in to your account to view all available tickets, or call Box Office on 020 7452 3961
Smart caption glasses
Are planned to be available for performances of Nye from 7.30pm, Wednesday 16 July.
Shop
Visit the Shop website for a wide range of playtexts, gifts and prints of past production posters.
Photography by Rachel Louise Brown.