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

Johnny Flynn (Richard Burton - Hamlet), Mark Gatiss (Sir John Gielgud - Director and Ghost), Tuppence Middleton (Elizabeth Taylor - a world apart), Allan Corduner (Hume Cronyn), Sarah Woodward (Eileen Herlie), Rebecca Collingwood (Linda Marsh), Luke Norris (William Redfield), Laurence Ubong Williams (Hugh McHaffie), Elena Delia (Jessica Levy), Huw Parmenter (Clement Fowler), Aaron Anthony (Robert Milli), Adam Sina (Frederick Young), Ryan Ellsworth (George Voskovec), Daniel Krikler (Dillon Evans / Waiter), David Tarkenter (Alfred Drake), Kate Tydman (Christine Cooper), Mark Extance (Mick Burrows), Stephanie Siadatan (Susannah Mason)

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