A powerful story brought to life, and shared with the people it’s truly about.
Photography (Michael Sheen) by Rachel Louise Brown. Art direction and design by National Theatre Graphic Design Studio.
The National Theatre and Tickets for Good have collaborated to launch an exclusive ballot giving NHS members the chance to access free tickets for Nye, the acclaimed production starring Michael Sheen as NHS founder Aneurin “Nye” Bevan. Returning to the National Theatre’s Olivier stage this summer after a sell-out run in 2024, the show celebrates the legacy of the NHS, and now, healthcare workers can apply through the Tickets for Good platform for the opportunity to attend.
Nye tells the story of the man behind one of Britain’s proudest institutions, and this collaboration ensures the very people the show honours — NHS staff past and present — have access to witness it live.
Nye is a National Theatre co-production with Wales Millennium Centre.
Nye is a journey through the life of Aneurin Bevan, the politician who created the NHS and transformed Britain’s welfare state. Starring Michael Sheen and directed by Rufus Norris, the show has been called “a valiant and valuable affirmation of the NHS” (★★★★ The Telegraph), with Sheen delivering a performance full of passion, urgency, and pride.
As Bevan reflects on his life in his final moments, from a childhood in the South Wales valleys to fierce debates in Parliament, the play draws powerful parallels with today’s struggles and triumphs in healthcare. The show will also travel to the Wales Millennium Centre in August.
Live events are a lifeline for so many, but cost and accessibility remain significant barriers. That’s why the National Theatre and Tickets for Good have collaborated to ensure NHS workers can attend Nye without financial stress.
Eligible NHS staff can enter a ballot for free tickets on our platform to selected dates at the Olivier theatre this summer. Unsuccessful applicants will still be able to purchase tickets at a discounted price through a special promotion, making the show accessible to more people than ever.
“This is exactly the kind of story that deserves to be told to the people it's about,” said Steve Rimmer, Founder and CEO of Tickets for Good. “We’re proud to help make that possible alongside the National Theatre. The NHS is built on the dedication of everyday people — they deserve the chance to experience their own legacy brought to life on stage.”
Michael Sheen, who stars as Nye Bevan, said:
“Nye was so popular with audiences last year, I am thrilled we are bringing it back to the National Theatre and Wales Millennium Centre this summer. It was Aneurin Bevan’s visionary spirit and sense of justice that led him from fighting for the rights of his mining community in Tredegar, Wales, to creating our National Health Service for the whole of the UK. It’s a privilege to play him again and tell a story that I really care about. This collaboration with Tickets for Good will ensure that tickets for Nye can be made accessible to the people the show is about: the brilliant staff and students who make the NHS what it is.”
Sara Otung, a junior doctor and cast member, added:
“Nye is a powerful production that brings to life the story of Aneurin Bevan - the visionary Welsh politician who created the NHS. I play Miss Lewis and understudy the characters Arianwen and Nurse Ellie. As a medical doctor, being part of this show feels like a vocation. It’s a heartfelt tribute to the uncompromising values that define our NHS. I know first-hand how vital it is for healthcare professionals to find moments of joy and inspiration outside of work - you can’t pour from an empty cup. That’s why this collaboration with Tickets for Good is so exciting. Nye is the kind of show that fills you back up, leaving you proud, re-energised, and inspired that one person really can change millions of lives. To share it on the stages of the National Theatre and the Wales Millennium Centre, with audiences who live that story every day, is truly an honour.”
Tickets for Good is a mission-driven organisation dedicated to making live events accessible to everyone, regardless of financial or social barriers. With over 400,000 registered users, the platform enables NHS staff, charity workers, teachers, and individuals receiving government cost-of-living support to attend live events at little or no cost.
To date, users have saved more than £20 million in ticket value across 850,000+ tickets, with events spanning major festivals, theatre, music, comedy, and sport. In 2024, Tickets for Good launched Tickets for Teachers, expanding access to educators via a collaboration with the NASUWT teaching union. The platform is now available in the U.S. and the Netherlands, where it has already connected tens of thousands of healthcare professionals with cultural experiences.
Learn more at ticketsforgood.org
The National Theatre makes theatre that entertains and inspires using its creativity, expertise and unique reach. We tell big stories in bold ways, offering the widest access to high quality theatre to millions of audience members across the UK and around the world – on our own stages, on tour, in schools, on cinema screens and streaming at home.
We bring the world to the National Theatre and take the National Theatre to the world through reimagined classic stories meeting fresh, contemporary voices. As part of our mission to celebrate and platform bold voices in British theatre, the National Theatre proudly hosts a dynamic group of Resident Companies, offering a platform for collaboration, growth, and innovation.
Through touring our work to local theatres, schools and through our nationwide education and community programmes, we are active in every local authority in the UK. We invest in talent and innovation on stage and off, taking seriously our role as the nation’s theatre. We work with hundreds of schools and communities across the UK to fire imagination and inspire creativity. The National Theatre Skills Centre supports thousands of young people every year to develop skills and pathways for careers in theatre.
For more information, please visit nationaltheatre.org.uk
Enter the Tickets for Good ballot here for a chance to attend performances at the National Theatre this summer.
If you’re not successful in the ballot, don’t worry — NHS members can still access a limited number of discounted tickets following the ballot (max 2 per member, subject to availability).
Enter the ballot here:
https://nhs.ticketsforgood.co.uk/events/292905-nye-at-the-national-theatre-ballot