Michael Sheen, Sir Tom Jones and Sian Phillips have been cast to star in an upcoming BBC Wales TV adaption of Under Milk Wood, a 1954 radio drama written by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. The news comes a month before the centenary of Thomas’ birth and 60 years after the play was first aired on BBC radio.

Michael Sheen Under Milk WoodMichael Sheen will be lending his voice to the omnipotent narrator in Under Milk Wood.

Set in Llareggub, a fictional Welsh village, Under Milk Wood explores the dreams and thoughts of the village’s inhabitants via an omnipotent narrator. A notable 1972 film adaption starred iconic couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, while the play has also been performed in theatres.

Sir Tom Jones will star as Captain Cat, a blind sea captain dreaming of his long lost shipmates and lover, with Frost/Nixon actor Michael Sheen joining a host of other famous actors, including Griff Rhys Jones and John Rhys Davies, to play First and Second Voice.

Tom Jones
Tom Jones Will Be Helping Celebrate Two Major Milestones For Thomas & His Classic Play.

The production will be 60 minutes long, executive producer Bethan Jones explained: “It’s been an enormous privilege to work with such an extraordinary ensemble of Welsh talent for this unique presentation of Dylan Thomas’ play, and an amazing experience to witness how this familiar text feels fresh and alive when read with truth and simplicity by this wonderful cast.”

Under Milk Wood will be broadcast on BBC One Wales and available on BBCiPlayer in May to provide a fitting close to a season of shows aimed at celebrating the centenary of Dylan Thomas, who died in 1953 aged just 39 years old.

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Watch Michael Sheen in the trailer for 'Frost/Nixon':