This is an HD screening of The Motive and the Cue, filmed live at London’s National Theatre. Directed by Sam Mendes and starring Mark Gatiss, the play looks behind the scenes of a legendary 1964 Broadway production of Hamlet.

The Motive and the Cue is presented here as a high-definition screening, not a live performance. Written by Jack Thorne and directed by Sam Mendes, the play premiered at the National Theatre in 2022 before transferring to the West End. It revisits the turbulent rehearsals of the 1964 Broadway revival of Hamlet, focusing on the clash between classical theatre director John Gielgud and film star Richard Burton.

As rehearsals stall, tensions rise between different generations and approaches to theatre—classical versus modern, stage versus film, discipline versus instinct. The production unfolds as a reflection on collaboration, conflict, and the process of making theatre itself.

Performers

• Director: Sam Mendes
• Playwright: Jack Thorne
• John Gielgud: Mark Gatiss
• Richard Burton: Johnny Flynn
• Elizabeth Taylor: Tuppence Middleton

Mark Gatiss won the Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in this production.

Why people should go see this show

This HD screening captures a widely praised National Theatre production featuring a well-known cast and creative team. It offers audiences a chance to see a theatre-centered story that explores rehearsal-room dynamics and artistic disagreement, presented through a filmed stage performance.