Experience a new production of the historical epic Owain and Henry starring Michael Sheen, courtesy of the Wales Millennium Centre and Welsh National Theatre
Delight in the imaginative narratives of Welsh stories in an exclusive performance by a professional storyteller
Delve into the wider context of Welsh history at select daytime visits including Caerphilly Castle and Cardiff Castle
"Superb. Complete passion and profound knowledge, easily imparted. Frighteningly intelligent with great charm, courtesy and a pleasure to meet”
– ACE customer on a 2025 theatre tour led by Jessica Chiba
“Audiences have a huge appetite for our stories if we give them the chance to experience them”
– Michael Sheen
ACE is delighted to announce this tour to Cardiff to enjoy a highlight performance of a new Wales Millennium Centre and Welsh National Theatre co-production of Owain and Henry, in the company of historian Dr Jessica Chiba of the Shakespeare Institute.
Olivier award-winning Welsh playwright Gary Owen delivers this brand new play as part of the Welsh National Theatre’s much anticipated debut season. The historical epic narrates the tale of Welsh rebel Owain Glyndŵr, outlaw and the last native-born Welshman to claim the title of Prince of Wales. Co-directed by Michael Sheen, the Welsh National Theatre’s artistic director, and Steffan Donnelly, artistic director of Theatr Cymru, the production is a homage to Welsh talent and the nation’s rich storytelling traditions and history. In the title role, Sheen will breathe life into this iconic national figure, exploring a defining narrative in the story of Wales’s survival, enduring cultural identity, and the power struggle that spread across the border between England and Wales in the Middle Ages.
“Our plays and performances will tell the stories of Wales' past, present and future, as well as classics seen through a Welsh lens. They’ll be produced on the grandest stages around the world, by world-class Welsh talents. We want truly ambitious writing from Welsh playwrights for the best actors in Wales, to be the pinnacle of our creative talent, raising the bar for excellence in entertainment”
– Michael Sheen
The evening performance will be complemented by a lecture given by our Tour Director introducing the play, as well as a post-performance discussion offering the opportunity to reflect on the production. We will delve into the Shakespearean motifs of theatre, storytelling and kingship throughout our tour, noting that Owain Glyndŵr appears as 'Owen Glendower,' a mystical, charismatic leader in Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1. We also look forward to an exclusive lecture with Dr Darren Freebury-Jones – Shakespeare scholar and author of Shakespeare’s borrowed feathers: How Early Modern Playwrights Shaped the World’s Greatest Writer – who will explore the prevailing affinity of kingship, Shakespeare and the Welsh narrative.
To further explore the ways in which historical narratives have found a home in the world of theatre, we will experience a private performance from a Welsh storyteller. Deeply rooted in Celtic mythology, this is likely to include stories inspired by the landscape, folklore and The Mabinogion – a collection of some of the earliest Welsh stories, compiled in the 12th and 13th centuries from tales passed down orally.
"In Shakespeare's imaginative landscape, Wales is often the land of subversion and resistance, of ancient values and customs; never more so than in the figure of Owen Glendower, the Welsh supporter of Northumberland and Hotspur in Henry IV. What happens when we reverse the dynamic and look at England from Wales? The Welsh National Theatre's Owain & Henry, starring Michael Sheen, is an exciting new play that presents an opportunity to rethink history and history plays from a Welsh perspective"
- Tour Director Jessica Chiba
Providing further context, we will enjoy select visits around Cardiff, including Cardiff Castle, a historical stronghold situated in the heart of the city; Llandaff Cathedral, an Anglican cathedral damaged after Glyndŵr’s rebellion; and Caerphilly Castle, one of the largest medieval castles in the UK.
We will stay throughout at the Hilton Cardiff, a modern and comfortable hotel, chosen for its ideal proximity to our visits and to Cardiff Central Station.
Jessica Chiba
Jessica Chiba is an Assistant Professor at the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham
This tour will be led by Jessica Chiba, PhD, an Assistant Professor at the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham. Jessica studied and taught at Royal Holloway, University of London, and lectured at the University of Surrey, before taking up a Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellowship at the Shakespeare Institute. Her research focuses on the intersection between Shakespeare and philosophy, and she is currently working on a project entitled Shakespeare’s Untranslatability. Jessica has led several theatre tours for ACE and looks forward to introducing a group to this exciting new production.
4
£1345
WWNT-26
Places are limited.
Please contact the office for more details on 01223 841055.
Included: accommodation based on sharing a Hilton twin or double bedded room, performance as described, three breakfasts, two dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not Included: travel insurance, Hilton king room for single use supplement £200.
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