Actor Michael Sheen visits Theatr Gwaun, Fishguard
The award-winning actor, director, philanthropist and activist Michael Sheen, popped into Fishguard's Theatr Gwaun last week, which he described as a 'beautiful' venue'.
He came to the theatre in his new role as and now artistic director of Welsh National Theatre, to find out what the theatre offered and what its audiences were interested in as well as to discuss possible future collaborations.
Seated in the venue's Martha's Bar he said that the community owned theatre was 'such a beautiful theatre, it's wonderful'.
'With this new company, Welsh National Theatre one of the most important things you can do to begin with is see what's out there,' he explained.
'Go and look at what's going on in the country and visit all the theatres that are out there. Find out what you're doing, what you're excited about, what's interesting to you. How we can work together.'
He added that Welsh National Theatre wanted to make 'shows that are there that are meaningful to Welsh audiences and telling our stories' that could be played on the biggest stages in the world, including the Millennium Centre, in Cardiff but also wanted to work in 'beautiful little theatres' like Theatr Gwaun.
'So you need to get out there and see what's out thee to be able to start doing that,' he said.
'To see what the audiences are into as well, what your experience is in this community and to find out what people are watching, what people would like to watch, what would be meaningful to people and see how we can serve that.
'It's such a beautiful theatre this, it's wonderful.'
Michael Sheen announced earlier this year that he was setting up Welsh National Theatre to fill the gap left by National Theatre Wales, which closed after Arts Council Wales made £1.6m in cuts to its core funding.
He has self-financed the company initially, saying that he wanted it to 'be something that represents the rich culture that we are and always have been in this country'.
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