Nye by Tim Price stars Michael Sheen as the titular character Aneurin “Nye” Bevan, who served as the Minister of Health in the post-war Labour government and was credited for the creation of the NHS. The play is a Welsh fantasia which explores the life and legacy of Nye Bevan by taking the audience on a surreal journey through his memories as he is on his deathbed in one of his hospitals and high on morphine.

The audience was taken through flashbacks from Bevan’s childhood, youth, and eventually career as an MP, then Minister of Health. Bevan dying was paralleled by his father dying, and in between flashbacks, we see his wife Jennie Lee (played by Sharon Small) and friend Archie Lush (played by Roger Evans) in the hospital at his bedside reminiscing and struggling to accept the fact that Bevan was dying.

Bevan’s complexity as a character was illustrated through the depiction of his overcoming of his speech disability, his struggle with balancing taking care of the nation and taking care of his family, his dilemma between standing by his principles and compromising them to gain more power, and ultimately his determination to transform Britain’s welfare system and build a healthcare service for all, thanks to both the brilliant writing by Tim Price and tremendous performance by Michael Sheen. 

Nye is not to be mistaken with just another biographical play of a historical figure, a sense of absurdity was kept throughout the play as Bevan never changed out of his pyjamas and was kept barefoot whether he was in school or in the Parliament. An extra layer of surreality was added by a memorable musical number of “Get Happy” as Nye danced on hospital beds with hospital staff accompanied by colourful stage lights.

One of the scenes which stood out to me the most was the standoff between Bevan and Churchill in the tea room. The tension between the boastful Churchill and Bevan, who was his most determined critic and even started a motion of no confidence against him, was remarkable. The scene walked the fine line between comedy and drama so well that there was enough humour to earn the laugh of the entire audience, but also enough seriousness that the sense of the gravity of the situation was not lost. 

It should be noted that the notion of the NHS does not really come to light until the second half of the second act, but Sheen was still able to deliver the power of Bevan’s determination as he repeated over and over again that his national health service would begin on 5 July 1948, “with or without the doctors”, despite opposition from both his party and the Tories. The power message “I want to give you your dignity” was sent.

As Bevan’s legacy is commemorated and celebrated, perhaps the government should reflect on what the NHS was supposed to be and what it has come to be.


Nye is live in National Theatre South Bank until 11 May. Nye is now in cinemas.