The Motive and the Cue

Details

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? Richard Burton, newly married to Elizabeth Taylor, is to play the title role in an experimental new 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. 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. Sam Mendes directs a startling new play on the making of Burton and Gielgud's Hamlet.

Cast/Performers

Allan Corduner (Hume Cronyn), Ryan Ellsworth (George Voskovec), Johnny Flynn (Richard Burton), Mark Gatiss (Sir John Gielgud), Aysha Kala (Jessica Levy), Tuppence Middleton (Elizabeth Taylor), Luke Norris (William Redfield), Michael Walters (Robert Milli / Understudy William Redfield), Laurence Ubong Williams (Hugh McHaffie)

Creatives/Company

Author: Jack Thorne
Producer(s): National Theatre, Neal Street Productions
Director(s): Sam Mendes, Alastair Coomer (CDG - casting), Naomi Downham (casting), Zoe Ford Burnett (associate director), Yasmin Hafesji (staff director)
Design(s): Es Devlin, Luke Halls (video)
Costume: Katrina Lindsay
Lighting: Jon Clark
Music: Benjamin Kwasi Burrell
Sound: Paul Arditti