24.11.2025 & 25.11.25 – Swansea Grand Theatre (with special Q & A between Michael Sheen and Matthew Rhys).
Emmy-award winner Matthew Rhys returned to the Welsh stage for the first time in over 20 years to perform Playing Burton: a one-man play charting Richard Burton’s life from his humble beginnings to the dazzling heights of Hollywood.
Exploring the struggle to balance fame, ambition, romance and identity, Playing Burton is written by Mark Jenkins and directed by Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher.
Matthew Rhys said: “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.”
The production was fundraising for Welsh National Theatre, welcoming theatre-goers to experience an incredible performance by one world-class actor, in homage to another.
English 
Welsh 