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Hollywood star Matthew Rhys (The Americans) is set to star in a major new production of Playing Burton, about legendary Welsh actor Richard Burton.

Emmy Award-winner Matthew Rhys will star as Burton in the one-man drama, written by Mark Jenkins. The performances will run in Welsh theatres from 16 to 28 November 2025, including Cardigan, Wrexham, Cardiff, Aberystwyth, Bangor, and Swansea, and culminate at Bethel Chapel Café in Burton’s birthplace of Pontrhydyfen.

Direction is by multi Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher (Kiss Me Kate, My Fair Lady), and Rhys, who was born in Cardiff, has been rehearsing the role at his home in New York.

The production is staged by new company Welsh National Theatre, led by Michael Sheen, and will raise funds for the organisation.

Playing Burton will mark the first time Matthew Rhys has performed on a Welsh stage for 22 years.

His previous London theatre credits include Cardiff East and The Associate at the National Theatre, Grace Note at The Old Vic, One More Wasted Year at the Royal Court, The Graduate at the Gielgud Theatre, and Macbeth at The Young Vic.

His last stage appearance was in 2012, in Look Back in Anger at the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York.

Playing Burton is timed to mark the centenary celebrations of the birth of Richard Burton, and offers a unique insight into Burton’s life, from his humble beginnings in South Wales, to his turbulent relationship with Elizabeth Taylor and his struggle with alcoholism, to becoming one of the most famous actors in the world.

Matthew Rhys said in a statement: “Michael Sheen has been putting all us Welsh actors to shame by setting up Welsh National Theatre so, when a space appeared in my schedule, I felt it was my time to step up. When Covid hit, I prepared a production of Playing Burton but have never had the chance to perform it on stage. With 2025 being both Burton’s centenary year and the first year of the Welsh National Theatre, it felt right to return to the Welsh stage for the first time in 20-plus years. The reason I wanted to act was because of Richard Burton. Since first seeing his incredible performance in Look Back in Anger to still listening to his audio of Hamlet and Under Milk Wood. He blazed the trail for us all and showed us it was possible.”

Michael Sheen said: “Matthew got in touch with me to say he had a window in his diary so how could he help Welsh National Theatre. What started with a simple message has turned into a tour where people across our country can see one of our greatest actors play one of our greatest actors, all in the year of Richard Burton’s centenary. One of the first things I did when we started was to visit theatres up and down Wales, so it feels special to be able to take this show to stages in lots of communities. The whole thing has a special kind of serendipity and is exactly what we wanted to unlock with Welsh National Theatre.”

All funds raised through the performances of Playing Burton will go to support Welsh National Theatre.

Welsh National Theatre announced its inaugural season back in April, including Michael Sheen as Owain Glyndŵr, the last Welsh-born Prince of Wales, in Owain & Henry; and a new production of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Our Town, presented in an intimate Welsh setting, starring Sheen.

Matthew Rhys’s next screen role is in Netflix’s The Beast in Me alongside Claire Danes.

Book tickets to Playing Burton at The Old Vic in London

Playing Burton – Tour

Cardigan
Mwldan, Bath-House Rd
7.30pm Monday 17th November

Wrexham
William Aston Hall, Wrexham
7.30pm Tuesday 18th November

Cardiff
Reardon Smith Theatre, National Museum Cardiff
2.30pm & 7pm Friday 21st November

Aberystwyth
Theatr y Werin, Aberystwyth Arts Centre
7.30pm Saturday 22nd November

Bangor
Theatr Bryn Terfel, Pontio
3pm & 7pm Sunday 23rd November

Swansea
Swansea Grand Theatre
7pm, Monday 24th November & 7pm, Tuesday 25th November

Links:
Playing Burton
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Main photo: Playing Burton starring Matthew Rhys. Photo via PR

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