Michael Sheen and Callum Scott Howells return to West End in revival of Peter Shaffer’s AMADEUS
Second Half Productions and Welsh National Theatre have announced the first major revival in over a decade of Peter Shaffer’s award-winning masterpiece Amadeus, which will play in Cardiff and London’s West End in 2027.
Returning for his first West End production since 2006’s Frost/Nixon, multi-award winning actor and director Michael Sheen (The Passion, Nye, Our Town) will star as embittered court composer Antonio Salieri, opposite BAFTA Cymru winner Callum Scott Howells (It’s a Sin, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club) who makes his role debut as musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Peter Shaffer’s seminal play. Sheen was the first major actor to perform both roles following critically acclaimed performances as Mozart in the West End and on Broadway (1998/1999) and as Salieri at the Sydney Opera House (2022). Amadeus sees Sheen and Howells reunite for the first time since their collaboration on BBC drama The Way, also marking the first time two Welsh actors have taken on the iconic roles in the same production. Further casting is to be announced.
The production will be directed by Jeremy Herrin, with set design by Olivier Award winner Bunny Christie, costumes by Lez Brotherston, and casting by Sam Jones CDG. Further creative team is to be announced.
Amadeus will play at New Theatre Cardiff from 9 - 27 March 2027 ahead of a 16-week run at the Noël Coward Theatre in London’s West End from 17 April - 7 August.
Vienna, 1820. A respected composer makes a shocking confession.
Antonio Salieri has everything - status, success, and the certainty that he has earned them. Until he meets musical prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Vulgar and childish, but utterly brilliant, Mozart possesses a gift so extraordinary that Salieri believes it can only be divine. And that God has chosen the wrong man.
Faced with a brilliance he cannot rival, Salieri begins a dangerous obsession that threatens to consume them both - channelling his jealousy into a calculated campaign to destroy the man he both worships and despises.
Fuelled by some of the greatest music ever written, Amadeus is an electrifying story of ambition, faith, and the unbearable cost of greatness - where talent battles genius, devotion turns to betrayal, and man dares to challenge God.
Jeremy Herrin said: “I'm delighted to be working on this legendary and beloved play with such fantastic acting talent. Michael Sheen is a master of the stage: surely one of the world's best. I can't wait to see him go toe to toe with Callum Scott Howells who has talent and presence to burn. I'm thrilled that Second Half Productions has the privilege of building the show in Cardiff and bringing Welsh National Theatre's inspiring work to the West End for the first time.”
Michael Sheen said: “It’s a full-circle moment for me to return to the West End with Amadeus. To play Salieri opposite a fellow Welshman as Mozart -a role that has meant so much to me - feels very special indeed. I directed Callum in my television drama The Way; he’s an extraordinary talent who deserves this stage, and audiences should be excited for what’s to come. To bring this vital new production to both Cardiff and the West End - a first for a Welsh National Theatre - feels like an important next step on our journey.”
Callum Scott Howells said: “It feels like a dream come true to be playing Mozart in this production next year. I have wanted to play the role for a very long time so to be given this opportunity to work with Jeremy and Michael to bring this extraordinary world to life feels like a real gift. I’m extremely excited to bring a brand new take on this epic story to the stage in both Cardiff and the West End in 2027.”
Tickets for Amadeus go on general sale tomorrow (24 April) at 10am, with further info here.
