National Theatre: The Motive And The Cue
Broadcast, National Theatre Live

Date and time
Thu 21st March 2024 at 7:00pm
Not classified as on the 13th February

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Cast: Mark Gatiss, Johnny Flyn, Tuppence Middleton, Rebecca Collingwood, Allan Corduner, Elana Delia

Written by Jack Thorne

Directed by Sam Mendes

Recorded Live

Sam Mendes (The Lehman Trilogy) directs Mark Gatiss as John Gielgud and Johnny Flynn as Richard Burton in this fierce and funny new play.

1964: Richard Burton, newly married to Elizabeth Taylor, is to play the title role in an experimental new Broadway production of Hamlet under John Gielgud’s exacting direction. But as rehearsals progress, two ages of theatre collide and the collaboration between actor and director soon threatens to unravel.

Written by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) and designed by Es Devlin (The Crucible), the Evening Standard award-winning best new play was filmed live during a sold-out run at the National Theatre. 

(2hrs 40mins inc one interval)