The Motive and the Cue

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Winner of Best Actor (Mark Gatiss) and nominated for Best New Play and Best Director at the Olivier Awards 2024

Following on from a recent acclaimed and sold out run at the National Theatre, the hugely celebrated production of THE MOTIVE AND THE CUE is playing at the Noel Coward Theatre for a limited 15-week run this winter!

Sam Mendes (The Lehman Trilogy) 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.

Joining them in this ‘theatrical extravaganza’ (Evening Standard) is, Allan Corduner as Hume Cronyn, Sarah Woodward as Eileen Herlie, Rebecca Collingwood as Linda Marsh, Luke Norris as William Redfield, Laurence Ubong Williams as Hugh McHaffie, Elena Delia as Jessica Levy, Huw Parmenter as Clement Fowler, Shaun Yusuf McKee as Robert Milli, Adam Sina as Frederick Young, Ryan Ellsworth as George Voskovec, Daniel Krikler as Dillon Evans and Waiter, David Tarkenter as Alfred Drake, Kate Tydman as Christine Cooper, Mark Extance as Mick Burrows and Stephanie Siadatan as Susannah Mason.

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What is The Motive and the Cue about?

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.

Ticket Information

Tickets not currently available.

Running Time

2 hours 40 minutes including an interval

Cast & Creatives

Jack Thorne (Writer), Sam Mendes (Director) Es Devlin (Set Designer), Katrina Lindsay (Costume Designer) Jon Clark (Lighting Designer), Benjamin Kwasi Burrell (Composer), Paul Arditti (Sound Designer)

Johnny Flynn (Richard Burton), Mark Gatiss (John Gielgud), Tuppence Middleton (Elizabeth Taylor), 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), Shaun Yusuf McKee (Robert Milli), Adam Sina (Frederick Young), Ryan Ellsworth (George Voskovec), Daniel Krikler (Dillon Evans and Waiter), David Tarkenter (Alfred Drake), Kate Tydman (Christine Cooper), Mark Extance (Mick Burrows) and Stephanie Siadatan (Susannah Mason)

Age Guidance: 12+

For group bookings of 10 or more:
Submit a request online

Or call 020 7206 1176

Venue Information

Noël Coward Theatre

85-88 St Martin's Ln, Charing Cross, London WC2N 4AP

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Nearest Tube/Rail Station

Leicester Square

Buses

24, 29, 176

Nearest Car Parks

Upper St Martin's Lane and Cambridge Circus

Reviews

Financial Times

'A brilliant new play.'

Broadway World

'A magnificent tour de force.'

WhatsOnStage

'Funny, witty and utterly compelling.'

Evening Standard

'A love letter to theatre.'

Telegraph

'A palpable hit.'

Sunday Times

'A thrilling rollercoaster of high drama.'

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