SEASON 2023-24
THE BEST OF BRITISH THEATRE
RECORDED LIVE ON STAGE IN LONDON

THE MOTIVE AND THE CUE (New Productiion)
A new play by Jack Thorne
directed by Sam Mendes

‘A brilliant, compassionate new play' - Financial Times

‘Immaculately directed by Sam Mendes' - Times

‘Mark Gatiss gives the performance of his career’ - Telegraph

‘Smooth and sophisticated’ - WhatsOnStage

‘Will give you goosebumps’ - Independent

DESCRIPTION: 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.