‘Unmissably extraordinary. Two acting titans dazzle in a love letter to theatre’

Daily Telegraph

‘A BRILLIANT NEW PLAY.’

Financial Times

‘A MAGNIFICENT TOUR DE FORCE’

Broadway World

‘Sam Mendes has spun a tense, superbly performed production. Theatrical gold’ 

Daily Mail

‘FUNNY, WITTY AND UTTERLY COMPELLING’

WhatsOnstage

‘A THRILLING ROLLERCOASTER OF HIGH DRAMA’

Sunday Times

‘A THEATRICAL EXTRAVAGANZA’

Evening Standard

ABOUT The Show

Sam Mendes directs Johnny Flynn as Richard Burton, Mark Gatiss as John Gielgud and Tuppence Middleton as Elizabeth Taylor, in this fierce and funny new play by Jack Thorne, offering a glimpse into the politics of a rehearsal room and the relationship between art and celebrity.

1964: Richard Burton, newly married to Elizabeth Taylor, is to play the title role in an experimental new Broadway 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.

The Motive and the Cue is inspired by Letters from an Actor by William Redfield and John Gielgud Directs Richard Burton in Hamlet by Richard L. Sterne.

Please note: This production contains strong language and adult themes, with some bright lighting. E-cigarettes are smoked onstage in this production.

Watch The Trailer

The Motive and the Cue’s West End run finished on 23 March 2024.

Access performances

There will be access performances on the following dates.

BSL Interpreted: Saturday 3 February, 2pm

Audio Described: Thursday 29 February, 7.30pm and Saturday 16 March, 2pm

Captioned: Tuesday 20 February, 7.30pm and Saturday 9 March 2pm

For more information and to book access performances, email [email protected] or call 0344 482 5137 (open 10am – 6pm daily, excluding Bank Holidays).

Education groups of 10+ | Band C tickets for £25, plus 1 free teacher per 10 paying students*

*Excluding performances in weeks commencing 25 December 2023, 1 January 2024 and 12 February 2024. Subject to availability.

Phone enquiries: 0344 482 5100 (Calls to Delfont Mackintosh Theatres’ 03 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number).

Groups of 10+ | Bands A and B tickets £50*

*Valid on Monday – Thursday performances, excluding weeks commencing 25 December 2023, 1 January 2024 and 12 February 2024.  Subject to availability.

Phone enquiries: 0344 482 5100 (Calls to Delfont Mackintosh Theatres’ 03 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number).

CAST and Creative

REBECCA COLLINGWOOD

REBECCA COLLINGWOOD

Linda Marsh

ALLAN CORDUNER

ALLAN CORDUNER

Hume Cronyn

ELENA DELIA

ELENA DELIA

Jessica Levy

RYAN ELLSWORTH

RYAN ELLSWORTH

George Voskovec

MARK EXTANCE

MARK EXTANCE

Mick Burrows

JOHNNY FLYNN

JOHNNY FLYNN

Richard Burton

MARK GATISS

MARK GATISS

John Gielgud

MIA KHAN

MIA KHAN

UNDERSTUDY LINDA MARSH/ STAGE MANAGER

DANIEL KRIKLER

DANIEL KRIKLER

Dillon Evans + Waiter

SHAUN YUSUF McKEE

SHAUN YUSUF McKEE

Robert Milli

TUPPENCE MIDDLETON

TUPPENCE MIDDLETON

Elizabeth Taylor

LUKE NORRIS

LUKE NORRIS

William Redfield

HUW PARMENTER

HUW PARMENTER

Clement Fowler

STEPHANIE SIADATAN

STEPHANIE SIADATAN

Susannah Mason

ADAM SINA

ADAM SINA

Frederick Young

DAVID TARKENTER

DAVID TARKENTER

Alfred Drake

KATE TYDMAN

KATE TYDMAN

Christine Cooper

LAURENCE UBONG WILLIAMS

LAURENCE UBONG WILLIAMS

Hugh McHaffie

SARAH WOODWARD

SARAH WOODWARD

Eileen Herlie