National Theatre Live: The Motive and the Cue

Saturday, April 20 - Monday, April 22, 2024

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, and is featured here for encore presentations.

Screening as part of National Theatre Live: Spring-Summer 2024

• Country UK
• Running Time 172 minutes
• Format DCP
• Distributor National Theatre Live
• Director Zoe Ford, Sam Mendes
• Cast Johnny Flynn, Tuppence Middleton, Mark Gatiss, Aysha Kala, Luke Norris
• Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

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