Our Town | Venue Cymru

Welsh National Theatre's production of Our Town, starring Artistic Director and widely recognised actor Michael Sheen, takes Thorton Wilder's masterpiece play and shines a contemporary Welsh lens. Ultimately, Our Town is about belonging and community, and finding purpose in the smallest of things. The attempt to shine a Welsh lens feels fitting, with community being the beating heart of Welsh people and their culture. Our Town serves as a gentle reminder to celebrate life and even the simplest of pleasures, and this production perfectly captures the beauty and essence of the every day.

We find ourselves in Grover's Corners, where two families become intertwined as a young woman and a young man fall in love. The people of Grover's Corners are ordinary people living ordinary lives in a quiet little town. Whilst the story initially feels quite surface level as we learn about the town and its people, Sheen's character as the Stage Manager/Narrator brings emotional depth by breaking the fourth wall, interacting and questioning the audience, taking the audience on the journey of life and all that follows.

Wilder's play was originally written as three acts. With this production opting for two acts, the pacing feels a little unsteady with the first act taking a while to find its feet and the second act feeling rushed to reach its conclusion. On top of this, the attempt to put the play under a Welsh lens whilst still taking place in its original American setting can feel a little jarring, meaning that it takes a little while to fully settle into the play. However, this doesn't take away from the overall charm and spirit of the play and its overarching themes.

Francesca Goodridge's direction allows the piece to build at a steady pace, with creative use of space and movement instead of opting for plenty of set changes and props. Goodridge sprinkles moments of theatre magic, giving the piece theatrical flair, but this isn't overused and instead is used purposely to highlight significant moments in the piece. This is supported by the character of the Stage Manager/Narrator, who often breaks down the fourth wall by asking rhetorical questions or directly talking to the audience, allowing the them to reflect and resonate with the piece.

Sheen's performance as Stage Manager/Narrator is both grounded and quietly contemplative with a commanding stage presence. Sheen naturally charms the audience, and he bounces between the joyful and carefree storyteller to the more darker, foreshadowing Narrator. Yasemin Özdemir and Peter Devlin as the young woman and man who fall in love have a natural chemistry with their relationship developing subtly throughout the play. Devlin's character is gentle and charming, complementing Özdemir's headstrong Emily.

An honorable mention must also be given Rhys Warrington as Simon Stimson, whose deeply unhappy character stands out amongst the idyllic townspeople. Simon leads the Church choir, but is struggling to come to terms with his sexuality in an era where same-sex relationships were not as accepted and is often the subject of town gossip. Warrington, even when interacting in the background, perfectly encapsulates the character's darkness. Christina Modestou also stuns with beautiful vocals and comedic relief that is very much needed, particularly in the heaviness of the second act.

Our Town is very much an ensemble piece, with lots of the cast members working tirelessly to move the story along by moving props or using physicality to portray animals or inanimate objects. This is an incredible feat and is achieved effortlessly with the help of Jess Williams as Movement Director. Overall, the performances feel intimate and grounded and allow the audiences to resonate and connect with the story.

Hayley Grindle's design strips back the theatrical excess and instead opts for a relatively bare stage. Wooden planks and ladders are moved around the stage fluidly by the ensemble to allow audiences to use their imagination and interpret the piece in their own way. Ryan Joseph Stafford's lighting design and Dyfan Jones' Compositions and Sound Design perfectly compliment the piece. Stafford's warm hues shine a spotlight on the peaceful town, as well as creating moments of striking dreamlike sequences. Jones' sound design are subtle in bringing atmosphere to the town, without taking the spotlight off the performances.

Our Town is an ambitious and striking piece of theatre that will resonate with audiences, and reminds one of why theatre is important in finding meaning and connection to the arts. Whilst the production design is minimal, the way in which Our Town has been creatively presented serves as a purposeful reminder to find the beauty in the simplicity.

Our Town plays at Venue Cymru until Saturday 07th February 2026 - tickets and more information can be found here.

★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Helen Murray