Star Sheen surprises theatre group
HOLLYWOOD star Michael Sheen surprised young performers with a visit, and joined them on stage when they put on the musical Annie.
The Frost/Nixon star dropped into the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl to watch the latest production by Bridgend Youth Theatre (BYT) on his way to the “wrap party” for his new movie, Netflix period drama Apostle, which has been filmed at Margam Park.
At the end of Friday evening’s show he joined BYT’s artistic director, Roger Burnell, on stage to praise the youngsters’ performance, calling them an “inspiration”.
The star of The Damned United, Tron: Legacy and sci-fi movie Passengers – who also staged a 72-hour performance of The Passion for National Theatre Wales at locations across his home town, Port Talbot, in 2011 – has long been a supporter of emerging talent in Wales.
In November he won the Inspiration Award at the annual It’s My Shout awards in Cardiff. The film training scheme is also run by Mr Burnell, who set Ruth Jones and Rob Brydon on the path to success while he was a drama teacher at Porthcawl Comprehensive.
Mum Rebecca Emily Lloyd, 40, from Porthcawl, whose daughter, Daisyboo , eight, played one of the orphans in Annie, said: “I have seen all the Underworld films and Twilight so when they said Michael Sheen had just turned up I thought, ‘oh my God’,” she said.
“When everyone was cheering and clapping someone introduced Roger and Michael. Everyone was so starstruck that he was there.
“He said the kids of Bridgend Youth Theatre were an inspiration. It was fabulous.”