National Theatre Live - The Motive and the Cue

★★★★★  'A brilliant, compassionate new play' - Financial Times

★★★★★  'Mark Gatiss gives the performance of his career' - Telegraph

★★★★★  'Immaculately directed by Sam Mendes' - Times

★★★★★  'Smooth and sophisticated' - WhatsOnStage

★★★★  'Will give you goosebumps' - Independent

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.

Why would the most famous movie star in the world choose to do a play which everyone already knows? And what lures us back to the same plays, year after year?

This fierce and funny new play by Jack Thorne offers a glimpse into the politics of a rehearsal room and the relationship between art and celebrity.

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.