National Theatre Live Presents: The Motive and The Cue

The Motive and
the Cue by Jack Thorne

directed
by Sam Mendes

The fierce and funny five-star play returns to the
big screen. Sam Mendes (The Lehman Trilogy) directs Mark Gatiss in an
Olivier Award-winning performance as John Gielgud.

1964: Richard Burton (Johnny Flynn), newly married
to Elizabeth Taylor (Tuppence Middleton), is set to play the title role in an
experimental new Broadway production of Hamlet under Gielgud’s exacting
direction. But as rehearsals progress, two ages of theatre collide and the
collaboration between actor and director soon threatens to unravel.

From multi-award-winning writer Jack Thorne (Adolescence),
this acclaimed production was filmed live during its sold-out London run in
2023.