Daniel Gwyn Evans was born on 31 July 1973 in the Rhondda, South Wales, and grew up in the valley before training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London from 1991 to 1994. He left before completing his course after being offered a place with the Royal Shakespeare Company, launching a career that has spanned stage performance, singing and directing.
Evans's breakthrough as a singer-actor came with the operetta 'Candide', which brought him a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical in 2000. He went on to win the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Stephen Sondheim's 'Merrily We Roll Along', cementing his reputation as one of British musical theatre's finest leading men.
Beyond performing, Evans built a major career as a director, leading Sheffield Theatres as Artistic Director from 2010 to 2017 and Chichester Festival Theatre from 2017 to 2023. He is now co-Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company alongside Tamara Harvey, continuing to champion new musical theatre work while maintaining strong ties to his Rhondda roots.
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Olivier Award-winning actor and singer, now co-Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Daniel Evans
Actor, Singer, Theatre Director
Born and raised in the Rhondda, South Wales.
After leaving the Guildhall School of Music and Drama early to join the Royal Shakespeare Company, Evans built a dual career as a performer and director. His Olivier Award-winning turn in 'Merrily We Roll Along' and earlier nomination for 'Candide' established him as a leading interpreter of Sondheim and musical theatre repertoire, while his tenures leading Sheffield Theatres and Chichester Festival Theatre marked him out as one of Britain's most respected artistic directors before his appointment at the RSC.
Career Highlights
Olivier Award, Best Actor in a Musical, for 'Merrily We Roll Along'
Artistic Director, Sheffield Theatres (2010–2017) and Chichester Festival Theatre (2017–2023)
Co-Artistic Director, Royal Shakespeare Company (with Tamara Harvey)