Summary:

Rating: ★★★★

Running Dates: Saturday 18th May - Saturday 1st June 2024

Where to see it: Wales Millennium Centre

Duration: 2 hours and 40 minutes (including interval)

Keywords: Politics, History, Welshness

Review

It was a touching way to show how knowledge is power, and the only way society can improve is if said knowledge is available to anyone and everyone.

As someone who chose Wales as her home, I was quite curious when this play was first announced as I have a keen interest in Welsh history and politics. When I found out Aneurin Bevan was being portrayed by THE Michael Sheen, perhaps the most adored Welshman nowadays, I kept counting down the days to see this performance.

Nye follows the life of Aneurin “Nye” Bevan, a strong political figure from Wales who is best known for being the founder of the NHS. We first meet our hero (because he is one!) in hospital after undergoing major surgery. From there, we jump through his life, from his days as a schoolboy, his days as a miner, all the way to his turbulent days as a politician fighting for people’s rights – never in chronological order, which may not be to everyone’s liking, but I personally found it a good way to keep the audience engaged.

The set design and lighting were simple yet extremely efficient in creating an immersive experience. The hospital curtains are the main part of this design, and the way they were adapted to become part of the political scenes seem to create (in my English Lit major opinion!) a poignant metaphor which reflects how politics is also all about what happens behind the curtain, rather than actual achievements.

Whilst this play really shines in its more emotional and reflective scenes, it was a pleasant surprise to see Michael Sheen perform a musical number, and it provided the audience with a chance to relax. In fact, despite the serious topics the play touches on, we got to laugh plenty of times – particularly as a Welsh audience, considering some of the jokes may perhaps be lost on audiences from other parts of the UK.

A moment I would like to stand out is when young Nye is first brought to a library by his best friend. I simply loved the way books and the library were shown as his gateway into social welfare – for the first time, Nye sees a service that is free and accessible to all and he experiences firsthand how that changes his life for the better. It was a touching way to show how knowledge is power, and the only way society can improve is if said knowledge is available to anyone and everyone.

The cast was outstanding throughout, delivering their lines with passion, and they really brought an impressive script to life. As previously mentioned, the main strength of this play is its raw and sharp dialogues, which the entire cast but particularly Sheen delivers masterfully. Some moments felt so intense that the audience was completely silent – all you could hear was the actors’ voices and nothing else.

Watching this performance is Wales felt particularly special as Welshness is present throughout the whole play. The audience is shown the harsh reality of the mining industry and the way it negatively has affected the population in the valleys – in Cardiff it is likely that several attendees at least know someone directly affected by these harsh times, therefore Sheen’s compelling demands for better conditions must have hit close to home for a lot of the audience.

The performance ends with Nye at the end of his life, and as he gets ready to let go, we see him hugging nurses and doctors. This was a beautiful and symbolic way of showcasing how much this one person changed healthcare in the UK.

All in all, Nye is a powerful tribute to a Welshman who has fought his entire life to improve the conditions of the everyday folk, and is a play which shows us the impact a single individual can have in striving for a better world. Nye’s last words in the play are “did I help everyone”? – while the NHS will sadly never be able to help everyone, this play is stark reminder that Aneurin Bevan made it so that the NHS can at least try.

Standout Quote or Moment: “You fear helping people will weaken the State? The State weakens the fabric of society by not helping it!”

See If: You love history, politics, or Michael Sheen!

Last Impression: Emotional play filled with strong speeches that will leave you in awe.

To get tickets for the show click here

We were kindly gifted these tickets in exchange for a review.

Written by Mariana Andrade