Last month, it was announced that acclaimed actor and Artistic Director Michael Sheen and his Welsh National Theatre company would premiere a brand-new production of Amadeus at New Theatre Cardiff in 2027 prior to a West End run. We chat to New Theatre Venue Director, Stephan Stockton, about this exciting news.

Stephan, welcome to Ensemble! How did the relationship between Welsh National Theatre and New Theatre Cardiff come about?
The Arts Council of Wales commissioned a study into the future of English Language Theatre in 2024 and I was asked to feed into a new National Theatre model for Wales.  A number of different options were discussed but I was persuading them to seek a Cardiff base for drama which could then tour the UK and beyond.  Wales has very few theatres around 1,000 capacity with our size of stage – making it ideal for premiering a production, prior to touring on that scale. When Michael Sheen independently established WNT in January 2025, I started having conversations with their CEO about the NT being a key venue for touring and we started discussing the idea of Amadeus.

What do you think Welsh National Theatre will do for Wales?
It’s only the first year of their journey; Our Town was their first production, which sold out in January this year in Swansea and then toured Wales.  Amadeus will be the first WNT production to have a direct transfer to the West End.  Wales has always had an issue with its own confidence as a country and I’m hoping that Welsh National Theatre will help grow that confidence. 

Can we expect any future WNT premieres at New Theatre Cardiff?
New Theatre Cardiff has a long-established history of presenting high quality drama, including touring product from the RSC, the National Theatre and Theatr Clwyd and we recently presented Prima Facie with Jodie Comer.  There are ongoing conversations with WNT about a future relationship looking at not just presenting their work but developing drama audiences in Wales.

What’s the response been like to the venue hosting the first performances of Amadeus?
Advance sales exceeded our expectations and audiences have fed back that they are excited to see New Theatre Cardiff presenting a production that is transferring straight to the Noel Coward Theatre in London for a 16-week run. Everyone who works here is really thrilled to be involved in creating this new production and seeing it transfer to the West End.

What’s so special about this new production of Amadeus?
Michael Sheen was the first major actor to have played both Salieri and Mozart in the stage production, as Michael played Mozart in Peter Hall’s production at the Old Vic in London and on Broadway, and played Salieri in a production at the Sydney Opera House.  The production will also see Callum Scott Howells (It’s a Sin, Cabaret), a graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, return to the West End, playing the role of Mozart. It’s also the first time two Welsh actors have played these roles in a production together.