Yesterday, National Theatre Live broadcast it’s 100th title, ‘Nye’– Tim Price’s (Teh Internet is Serious Business) new play directed by Rufus Norris (Small Island), charting the life of Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan and his battle to create the NHS, live from the Olivier stage to over 600 cinemas.
During the broadcast, the National Theatre released a short film capturing the story of NT Live from its inception in 2009. Featuring Dame Helen Mirren, James Cordon, Fisayo Akinade, Indira Varma, and Sir Ian McKellen, the film offers a look behind the curtain at how NT Live has evolved over the last 15 years, capturing world-class performances and taking them into cinemas, making theatre more accessible for global audiences.
To celebrate Nye as the 100th release from National Theatre Live, the National Theatre partnered with the NHS to give 400 NHS workers free tickets to last night’s performance, and invited 1,000 NHS workers nationwide to watch the live broadcast in cinemas in collaboration with Vue, extending its commitment to share impactful stories that inspire and unite people.
Michael Sheen plays Nye Bevan in a surreal and spectacular journey through the life and legacy of the man who transformed Britain’s welfare state and created the NHS, in this co-production with Wales Millennium Centre. Confronted with death, Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan’s deepest memories lead him on a mind-bending journey back through his life; from childhood to mining underground, Parliament and fights with Churchill.
Tim Price, playwright of Nye, said last night, “I started writing this play about ten years ago so to be here tonight with a lot of people who work in the NHS watching this foundation story is a real privilege and to be part of the 100th NT Live is also a very special one.”
Audiences can find their local screenings of NT Live at: findavenue.ntlive.com/
