Michael Sheen is praised for 'putting his money where his mouth is' as he funds a new national theatre company in Wales
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Michael Sheen has been praised for 'putting money where his mouth is' as he is funding a new national theatre company in Wales. The actor, 55, is reportedly set to become the artistic director of the Walsh National Theatre. With its first production set to start in 2026, Michael told the Mirror that he likes 'the idea of starting small and building up'.
![[The actor, 55, is reportedly set to become the artistic director of the Walsh National Theatre]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/11/19/93995285-14274159-image-a-3_1736622278357.jpg)
The move comes after National Theatre Wales said last month it had 'ceased to exist' after £1.6m in cuts to its core funding from Arts Council Wales. Michael also revealed that the new company didn't have funding yet but he will work with what he has.
![[With its first production set to start in 2026, Michael told the Mirror that he likes 'the idea of starting small and building up']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/11/19/93995377-14274159-image-a-8_1736622427470.jpg)
He told the publication: 'I like the idea of starting small, simple, lean and building it up, working with what you've got. Michael Sheen has been praised for 'putting money where his mouth is' as he is said to fund a new national theatre company in Wales.
![[The move comes after National Theatre Wales said last month it had 'ceased to exist' after £1.6m in cuts to its core funding from Arts Council Wales]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/11/19/93995389-14274159-image-a-9_1736622468985.jpg)
The actor, 55, is reportedly set to become the artistic director of the Walsh National Theatre. 'Don't pay for swanky offices if you don't need them, build it slowly with care and with passion and with vision and with ambition. 'We aim to represent the Welsh people so I would hope that public bodies would be prepared to work with us.
![[The news comes after he was praised for 'embracing wholeheartedly' what is the 'interview of a lifetime' for a group of neurodivergent people in the new BBC show, The Assembly, earlier last year]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/06/02/83299933-13277831-The_Assembly_from_the_BBC_aired_Friday_evening_during_Autism_Acc-a-32_1712365545215.jpg)
'I think probably history tells us that relying too much on any one source of funding makes you a bit vulnerable so I first and foremost would hope that this company can stand on its own two feet but we are open to working with whoever wants to get involved.'.
![[The special showed actor be quizzed by a group of autistic and neurodivergent people in conjunction with Autism Awareness Week - and they didn't hold back]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/06/02/83299881-13277831-The_thirty_minute_special_showed_actor_Michael_Sheen_face_the_in-a-31_1712365541274.jpg)
