Photo credit: Hamlet on Broadway in 1964 (Photo courtesy of NYPL / Friedman-Abeles)

Johnny Flynn and Tuppence Middleton to star in ‘The Motive and the Cue’

Sam Mendes directs Mark Gatiss in Jack Thorne's newest play.

Sophie Thomas22 November, 2022, 11:35

Find out who will star in Jack Thorne’s The Motive and the Cue at the National Theatre. The Motive and the Cue begins previews in the Lyttelton Theatre on 20 April, ahead of an opening night on 2 May, and performances to 1 July.

Johnny Flynn, Tuppence Middleton, and Mark Gatiss will star in the play. The Motive and the Cue play will explore what took place during Richard Burton's Hamlet on Broadway in 1964, and how John Gielgud and Richard Burton collaborated both on and off-stage.

Johnny Flynn will play Richard Burton in The Motive and the Cue, joined by the Olivier-winning actor Mark Gatiss plays John Gielgud, and Tuppence Middleton makes her National Theatre debut as Elizabeth Taylor. Allan Corduner, Ryan Ellsworth, Aysha Kala, Luke Norris, Michael Walters and Laurence Ubong Williams also star.

Jack Thorne writes the play, titled after a Hamlet soliloquy. Sam Mendes directs The Motive and the Cue, following his National Theatre success with The Lehman Trilogy. The show features set design by Es Devlin, costume design by Katrina Lindsay, lighting design by Jon Clark, and sound design by Paul Arditti.

The Motive and the Cue is at the National Theatre.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Motive and the Cue about?

Mark Gatiss and Johnny Flynn take the stage in the National Theatre's West End transfer of The Motive and the Cue. Academy Award-winner Sam Mendes directs this hilarious new play that delves into the making of Richard Burton and John Gielgud's Hamlet on Broadway. Find out more about tickets on London Theatre.

How long is The Motive and the Cue ?

The running time of The Motive and the Cue is 2h 40m (incl. interval)

Where is The Motive and the Cue playing?

The Motive and the Cue is playing at Noël Coward Theatre. The theatre is located at 85-88 St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4AU.

What's the age recommendation for The Motive and the Cue ?

The recommended age for The Motive and the Cue is 12+ Everyone, regardless of age, must have their own ticket to enter the theatre. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by and sat next to a ticket holder who is at least 18 years old. Children under the age of 5 will not be admitted. .