The National Theatre’s production of Nye, a stirring portrayal of Aneurin Bevan’s life and his indelible legacy as the founder of the NHS, is making waves once again. Released for streaming on 7 November the play, starring Michael Sheen, offers a deeply resonant exploration of public health and social equity through the lens of Bevan’s battles.
Yet it’s not just the politics of the piece that has viewers talking. It’s also the real-world vulnerability of its lead actor, who battled illness earlier this year during the production’s first run.
A sense of unease
Between 5 and 27 April, Sheen – whose intense and empathetic portrayal of Bevan has been lauded as “fiery” and “terrifically engaging” – was forced to step away from the role for a time due to illness. His understudy, Lee Mungo, carried the performance with skill and dedication, demonstrating the often-unsung heroism of understudies in theatre.
The streaming version, however, captures Sheen’s return to the stage, during a period when viewers noted he was still visibly unwell. Jenn, a theatregoer who attended Nye, says, “It’s always a privilege to see Michael Sheen perform. To the disappointment and concern of many, he missed performances in April due to illness. For the two nights he returned during this time, including the night Nye was filmed, audience members could see he looked unwell.”
“He looked pale, was sweating profusely, and needed to catch his breath and swallow back coughs. The National Theatre staff said his understudy stood dressed in costume just offstage in case he needed to step in, adding to the sense of unease about Sheen’s health.”
These observations reappeared after the release of the recorded performance. A fan of Sheen’s, @MelimeloPlu on Twitter, added, “When the National Theatre offered to show the play on YouTube for a few days, people started praising [Sheen’s] heroism for performing while ill. It makes me sad because everyone should be able to rest enough to get through an illness.”
“It shows that too many people have this mentality of pushing themselves when they are unwell, to get the job done, instead of taking care of themselves. Maybe it works for some people. But at what cost? It can’t work with an illness like Covid, which can disable people. I hope it doesn’t affect these incredible actors who give us so much.”
Theatre in the age of Covid
While the virus that kept Sheen from performing in April wasn’t confirmed to be Covid, he had what he described as a “difficult and quite scary” experience with it in 2021. Performers such as Bruce Springsteen, Heart, and – in the past week – Rod Stewart and Childish Gambino have cancelled concerts due to Covid. Mick Hucknall, Tilda Swinton, Colin Farrell, Dave Navarro, Justin Bieber, Emma Samms, and others have been greatly affected by long Covid.
Performers face heightened risks due to the nature of their work – rehearsing and performing indoors, travelling frequently, and engaging closely with audiences. Productions have suffered delays, cancellations, and financial instability.
At the National Theatre audience attendance is down 15% from pre-pandemic levels, with revenue down more than 11%. Although the National upgraded ventilation in 2021, ongoing health risks in such public spaces are very real. However, it may at least have limited infections within Nye’s cast, avoiding the recent disruption of David Tennant’s Macbeth at the Harold Pinter Theatre. In that case, four performances were cancelled due to illness, and it reopened with an unprecedented six understudies.
The dangers reflect the ongoing Covid pandemic in the UK generally. The Office for National Statistics finds that over 2mn people are living with long Covid, a debilitating condition which can result from even mild Covid infections. Studies indicate that approximately 10-20% of those infected then develop long Covid.
The Covid crisis has had far-reaching impacts, not only on individual health but, within industries like the performing arts, seeing job precarity and exposure risks intersecting. Long Covid poses an even graver threat to those in the arts. The physical demands of performance make recovery more challenging, while job insecurity leaves many without the financial safety net to take the time they need to rest and recover.
Covid impacts in Wales
The human and economic costs of Covid are evident in Wales, where nearly 13,000 people died of or with the virus by the end of August 2024. An estimated 130,000 people are living with long Covid, a chronic condition affecting 3-4% of the UK population (though some studies suggest it could be as many as 1 in 10). Long Covid involves over 200 potential symptoms, ranging from neurological and cardiovascular problems to severe fatigue and autoimmune disorders.
The consequences of this crisis ripple beyond health. In Wales alone, around 37,000 people have become unable to work due to long-term illness since the pandemic began. This mirrors trends across the UK, where long Covid has forced 23.3% of affected individuals to stop working.
The effects extend to education, with persistent school absenteeism in Wales more than doubling and children’s learning disrupted. The Welsh healthcare system is buckling under pressure, exacerbated by 1 in every 5 doctors reducing hours due to long Covid and severe outbreaks of other infectious diseases.
The loss of human capital can be felt in all segments of society. Phil Coleman, a long Covid (LC) sufferer, describes his struggles.
“I no longer work and went from a well-paid public sector job in IT maintenance – keeping old computers running that the organisation relies upon – to living on ESA. I was lead mental health first aider (MHFA) for a national body in Wales, supporting fellow MHFAs, colleagues, volunteers, and visitors through the pandemic and beyond. Ironically I supported them with the emotional consequences of developing LC themselves!”
“I’ve gone from being an active person who contributes to society economically, emotionally, and occupationally, with rare skills, and whose volunteering helped others cope with poor mental health, to someone who has pretty much withdrawn from life.”
I’m With Nye: reimagining Bevan’s legacy
Concerns raised by the health risks of Covid align closely with the themes of Nye. Aneurin Bevan’s vision for a public healthcare system was built on the principle of collective responsibility – on centering the needs of the vulnerable to create a healthier, fairer society. This ethos has inspired the ‘I’m With Nye’ campaign, advocating for systemic responses to the long Covid crisis.
One key initiative of the campaign is a petition currently under consideration by the Welsh Senedd. It calls for the creation of a ‘Care Society’, a progressive framework to tackle long Covid in Wales. The proposed measures include:
- Long Covid clinics and research initiatives
- A universal basic income pilot to support those unable to work
- Employment protections for long-term illnesses
- Upgrades to public infrastructure, such as ventilation systems, using green energy
This is rooted in the belief that Bevan’s vision for the NHS – a system centred on equity and compassion – must evolve to meet the challenges of our time. As the campaign argues, addressing long Covid requires reimagining public health to prioritise prevention, support, and the collective well-being of society.
A call to action
The Senedd’s forthcoming discussion of the Care Society petition is an opportunity to honour Bevan’s legacy by confronting one of the greatest public health crises of our generation. It is also a reminder of the human cost of inaction.
Yanto Evans, a trustee of the charity Long Covid Support, says, “Just because we ignore something doesn’t mean it will go away. The impact of long Covid on our lives is profound – not just our health but our livelihoods, our families, our communities, and our economy.”
“With a lack of public health messaging, GP surgeries are becoming clogged up with patients reporting long-term effects of repeat Covid infections, with many GPs unaware of how to diagnose or treat them. Patients in Wales are crossing the border to access private healthcare at their own expense in a desperate search for answers. Meanwhile, those living with long Covid, notably healthcare workers, are losing their jobs, placing further strain on our infrastructures.”
Theatre has always been a space for reflection and action. As audiences stream Nye, let it be not just a story of the past but a rallying cry for the present. Wales is at a crossroads, and Bevan’s vision compels us to ask, “What will we do with this moment?” For those in Wales and beyond, the answer must surely be clear: “I’m with Nye!”
