The Motive and the Cue Tickets

Mark Gatiss has won the UK Theatre Award 2023 for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre. The news comes ahead of the UK Theatre Awards ceremony taking place on Sunday 8 October 2023 at the Guildhall in London, hosted by actor Zoe Birkett (The Witches, Moulin Rouge! The Musical). The UK Theatre Awards are the only nationwide awards to honour and celebrate outstanding achievements in theatre throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by UK Theatre members. Nominations for the 2023 awards were announced last week. Mark Gatiss is a prolific writer, director, producer, author and actor. His recent projects include directing the comedy The Unfriend, which started at Chichester Festival Theatre, played a season at the Criterion Theatre in London, and is heading back to the West End's Wyndham's Theatre from 16 December 2023. He also directed the comedy The Way Old Friends Do at Birmingham Rep, which also transferred to the West End; and has adapted A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story, which started life at the Nottingham Playhouse, and is heading back to London this festive season playing the Alexandra Palace Theatre from 24 November 2023 starring Keith Allen. Mark Gatiss is also an Olivier Award winning actor, with his stage work including recent hit National Theatre play The Motive and The Cue playing John Gielgud. The show is transferring to the Noël Coward Theatre from 9 December 2023. His other stage work includes Coriolanus at the Donmar Warehouse, The Boys In The Band at the Park Theatre and Vaudeville Theatre, and Three Days In The Country at the National Theatre, for which he won an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. On TV he is a member of The League Of Gentlemen and as the co-creator and executive producer of the multi-award winning BBC series Sherlock, in which he played Mycroft Holmes; and on TV and film he has appeared in Mission Impossible 7, Operation Mincemeat, The Father, The Favourite, Christopher Robin, Gunpowder, Wolf Hall, Coalition and Game Of Thrones. Mark Gatiss said: “I’m very flattered and delighted to receive this unexpected honour. The theatre holds a very special place in my blackened old heart, and it’s been a delight to have been so thoroughly immersed in it in recent years.” Claire Walker, Co-CEO of Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, said: “We would like to offer congratulations to the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre Award, Mark Gatiss. The impact he has made on national theatre is immeasurable – from his Olivier Award winning performances on stage as an actor, to his work in regional and West End productions as a director. We are so looking forward to celebrating his achievements at the UK Theatre Awards ceremony on Sunday 8 October.”

Tickets have gone on sale for the the National Theatre's production of The Motive and the Cue - coming to the Noel Coward Theatre in London's West End this December 2023. Written by Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials, Help, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), the acclaimed play will run at the Noel Coward Theatre in London from 9 December 2023 until 23 March 2024. The play's original lead stars - Johnny Flynn as Richard Burton, Mark Gatiss as John Gielgud and Tuppence Middleton as Elizabeth Taylor - will all return to play their iconic roles in the West End transfer. The Motive and the Cue is directed by Oscar, Tony, Olivier and Golden Globe winner Sam Mendes (The Lehman Trilogy), and is a play inspired by the making of Burton and Gielgud’s infamous production of Hamlet on Broadway. Read the great reviews from the critics for The Motive and the Cue, and book tickets here. Joining Sam Mendes in the creative team are: Set design by Es Devlin, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, lighting by Jon Clark, sound by Paul Arditti and music composed by Kwasi Burrell. Book tickets to The Motive and The Cue at the Noel Coward Theatre in London

Rufus Norris will step down as Director of The National Theatre in mid-2025 when his term comes to an end, marking 10 years in one of the most prestigious jobs in theatre. Since joining in 2015, Norris has shaped a programme of distinctive, thought-provoking work, with a key focus on widening the representation on the National Theatre's stages. The South Bank theatres have been on average 88% full – as high as any point in its history, despite the disruption of Covid. Numerous successes include frequent transfers to the West End and Broadway, from its latest transfers The Ocean At The End Of The Lane and The Motive and the Cue to the Noel Coward Theatre and Standing at the Sky’s Edge to the Gillian Lynne Theatre, to previous transfers including People, Places & Things, Nine Night, Angels in America, and The Lehman Trilogy. Digital innovation under his leadership has seen the National reach new audiences in over 180 countries, and their flagship National Theatre at Home platform has ensured their work is shared with the widest audience reach and impact. National Theatre Live, now in its 14th year, has reached over 11.8 million people in cinemas worldwide and broken the event cinema box office record for the UK and Ireland twice. The National Theatre joins a growing list of arts venue that have seen or will see change of leadership including: the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford, Donmar Warehouse, Chichester Festival Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, Theatr Clwyd and International Theater Amsterdam. The National Theatre also announced today 12 new shows for its 2023/2024 season, featuring stars such as Michael Sheen, David Oyelowo, Harriet Walter and Lindsay Duncan; and big-name directors including Rebecca Frecknall, Ian Rickson, Rufus Norris, Clint Dyer and Lyndsey Turner. What they said: Speaking about today’s announcements, Rufus Norris said: "It has been and remains the greatest privilege of my career to lead the National Theatre. For the past eight years I have had the honour of shaping the programme of extraordinary work that sparks imagination, brings people together and illustrates the vital role theatre can play in all our lives. The daily highlight has been to work with the peerless theatre-makers who work here, together with the incredible range of freelance artists upon whom the present and the future of the art form relies. I am enormously proud to be part of the diverse, thriving, creative hub the National Theatre is today and am fully committed to steering the course over the next two years. From the work on our stages, to the audiences all around the UK and beyond that engage with us on tour, in cinemas, in schools and at home, the NT entertains and inspires people through our creativity, expertise and unique reach. The magic of the National Theatre is that there is nowhere else like it; to have been a small part in its illustrious history, particularly through the challenges of the last few years, is a true honour." Chair of the National Theatre, Sir Damon Buffini said: "Rufus Norris has led the National Theatre with extraordinary skill, foresight and resilience during a decade of huge change in the UK and globally. The National’s artistic programme, as shaped by Rufus, has been exceptional in quality, prescience and popular appeal, reaching bigger audiences than at any time in the theatre’s history. Alongside that, Rufus’ passionate belief in opening up hands-on opportunities to young people and communities has boosted creativity right across the country and beyond. Rufus has always been ahead of the game, leading with both heart and head. Rufus’ legacy is already immense; I am excited about what will be achieved in the final two years of his tenure as the National Theatre continues to stage unforgettable productions and make great strides in addressing key priorities – from creative education and skills to environmental sustainability. The NT Board and I offer Rufus our most sincere admiration and thanks."

The National Theatre's acclaimed production of The Motive and the Cue by Jack Thorne will transfer to the West End later this year. Announced today at the National Theatre's press conference, the show will open at the Noël Coward Theatre, running from 9 December 2023 until 23 March 2024. Original leads Johnny Flynn, Mark Gatiss and Tuppence Middleton will return to play the iconic roles of Richard Burton, John Gielgud and Elizabeth Taylor. Directed by Sam Mendes, Jack Thorne’s critically acclaimed play is inspired by the making of Burton and Gielgud’s infamous production of Hamlet on Broadway. The show is currently playing at the National Lyttelton Theatre until 15 July. The production is co-produced with Sam Mendes' Neal Street Productions (The Lehman Trilogy, Hamnet). Read reviews of The Motive and the Cue Book tickets to The Motive and The Cue at the Noel Coward Theatre in London Production images for The Motive and the Cue [ngg src="galleries" ids="1144" display="pro_tile"]

There's much West End transfer chatter happening at the moment over Jack Thorne's new drama for the National Theatre - The Motive and the Cue. Directed by Sam Mendes, the show has got great reviews from the London theatre critics, and there's been much speculation about when - and where - the show might transfer to in the West End. Baz in Deadline has now weighed in with some heavy-hitting rumours, coming pretty much directly from the producers, as he quizzes Neal Street Productions co-head Caro Newling about the transfer (Newling runs Neal Street with Sam Mendes). It seems that a run at the Noel Coward Theatre in September 2023 is the most likely scenario. The Almeida's production of Peter Morgan drama Patriots starring Tom Hollander is playing there from 26 May to 19 August 2023, but nothing has been announced from September. Apparently discussions are underway with the cast, to try and tempt them into a run that is longer than the usual 12 weeks, and getting the original cast seems pretty crucial - particularly Mark Gatiss, who plays John Gielgud and has got the reviews of his career for his performance. The show's other stars, including Johnny Flynn as Richard Burton, Tuppence Middleton as Elizabeth Taylor, and Janie Dee as Eileen Hurlie, have also been well received. Janie Dee definitely won't be available, as she will be performing in Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends over at the Gielgud Theatre from 16 September 2023 to 6 January 2024. The current cast of The Motive and the Cue also features Aaron Anthony, Tom Babbage, Allan Corduner, Elena Delia, Ryan Ellsworth, Phoebe Horn, Aysha Kala, Luke Norris, Huw Parmenter, David Ricardo-Pearce, David Tarkenter, Kate Tydman, Laurence Ubong Williams and Michael Walters. The creative team includes designer Es Devlin, and discussions are underway to establish whether the rigging of the Noel Coward Theatre can cope with the demands of her set. Neal Street Productions are on an absolute roll at the moment, with their National Theatre production of The Lehman Trilogy playing to packed houses at the Gillian Lynne Theatre (until 21 May 2023); and their RSC production of Maggie O'Farrell's Hamnet, adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti (Life of Pi) and directed by Erica Whyman, running at the Garrick Theatre from 30 September 2023 to 6 January 2024. Neal Street Productions are part of TV company All3Media - which is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, so expect a potential The Motive and the Cue TV feature or movie also hitting screens at some point. The Motive and the Cue explores the making of Richard Burton and John Gielgud's Hamlet on Broadway in the 1960's. Richard Burton, newly wed to Elizabeth Taylor, stars in the lead role of Hamlet, in an experimental staging directed by the exacting John Gielgud. As the rehearsal process unfolds, two eras of theatre clash and the collaboration between actor and director threatens to unravel, offering a captivating glimpse into the politics of the rehearsal room and the complex relationship between art and celebrity. Book tickets to The Motive and The Cue at the Noel Coward Theatre in London The Motive and the Cue - Photos [ngg src="galleries" ids="1144" display="pro_tile"]

Production photos are in for Jack Thorne's new drama The Motive and the Cue at the National Theatre in London. The world premiere of Jack Thorne's new play opened at the National Theatre yesterday, 2 May 2023. Read reviews of The Motive and the Cue. Directed by Sam Mendes, the play explores the making of Richard Burton and John Gielgud's Hamlet on Broadway in the 1960's, and why the most famous movie star in the world would choose to take on a classic play that everyone knows, and why the greatest actor of his generation would choose to direct him? In this thrilling new production, Richard Burton, newly wed to Elizabeth Taylor, stars in the lead role of Hamlet, in an experimental staging overseen by the exacting John Gielgud. As the rehearsal process unfolds, two eras of theatre clash and the collaboration between actor and director threatens to unravel, offering a captivating glimpse into the politics of the rehearsal room and the complex relationship between art and celebrity. Featuring a talented cast, including Johnny Flynn as Burton, Mark Gatiss as Gielgud, and Tuppence Middleton as Taylor, this fiercely funny new play by Jack Thorne is not to be missed. Book tickets to The Motive and The Cue at the Noel Coward Theatre in London The Motive and the Cue - Photos [ngg src="galleries" ids="1144" display="pro_tile"]

Reviews are coming in for the world premiere of Jack Thorne's new play The Motive and the Cue at the National Theatre, directed by Sam Mendes. Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) has written a compelling new drama that's set during rehearsals for an infamous staging of Hamlet on Broadway in 1964, that starred British acting icon Richard Burton and was directed by John Gielgud. The Motive and the Cue will play at the National Theatre 's Lyttelton Theatre until 15 July 2023. The A-list cast includes Johnny Flynn (Emma, Hangmen) as Richard Burton, Tuppence Middleton (Downton Abbey) as Elizabeth Taylor, Mark Gatiss (Sherlock) as John Gielgud, and Janie Dee as Scottish-American actress Eileen Hurlie. The play also features Aaron Anthony, Tom Babbage, Allan Corduner, Elena Delia, Ryan Ellsworth, Phoebe Horn, Aysha Kala, Luke Norris, Huw Parmenter, David Ricardo-Pearce, David Tarkenter, Kate Tydman, Laurence Ubong Williams and Michael Walters. Alongside Sam Mendes in the creative team is production designer Es Devlin, costume designer Katrina Lindsay, lighting designer Jon Clark, music composer Benjamin Kwasi Burrell, sound designer Paul Arditti, and video designer Luke Halls. The Associate director is Zoe Ford Burnett. Co-producers of the play, Sam Mendes' Neal Street Productions, are currently also producing The Lehman Trilogy, which is now playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, and the RSC's adaptation of Hamnet, coming to the Garrick Theatre at the end of September. Read reviews for The Motive and the Cue including The Times, The Telegraph, The Evening Standard and more. More reviews to follow. Book tickets to The Motive and The Cue at the Noel Coward Theatre in London

Rehearsal images have come in for the forthcoming world premiere of Jack Thorne's The Motive and the Cue at the National Theatre. Directed by Sam Mendes, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child writer Jack Thorne's new play will premiere at the National Theatre 's Lyttelton Theatre from 20 April 2023. A starry cast includes Johnny Flynn (Emma, Hangmen) as Richard Burton, Tuppence Middleton (Downton Abbey) as Elizabeth Taylor, Mark Gatiss (Sherlock) as John Gielgud, and Olivier Award-winning actress Janie Dee as Scottish-American actress Eileen Hurlie. Other cast in The Motive and the Cue include Aaron Anthony, Tom Babbage, Allan Corduner, Elena Delia, Ryan Ellsworth, Phoebe Horn, Aysha Kala, Luke Norris, Huw Parmenter, David Ricardo-Pearce, David Tarkenter, Kate Tydman, Laurence Ubong Williams and Michael Walters. The production was first announced last July, and delves into the lives of British acting icons Richard Burton and John Gielgud, who collaborated on staging a performance of Hamlet on Broadway in 1964. During that period, Burton and Taylor had recently tied the knot after meeting on the set of Cleopatra, and were widely regarded as the most high-profile couple globally. The creative team also includes production design by Es Devlin, costume design by Katrina Lindsay, lighting design by Jon Clark, composer Benjamin Kwasi Burrell, sound designer Paul Arditti, and video designer Luke Halls. The Associate director will be Zoe Ford Burnett. The show is another joint production between the National and Sam Mendes' Neal Street Productions; their co-production of The Lehman Trilogy is now playing at the West End's Gillian Lynne Theatre, with Michael Balogun, Hadley Fraser and Nigel Lindsay. Neal Street are also co-producing with the RSC on Hamnet, which opens tonight in Stratford and comes to the Garrick Theatre at the end of September. The Motive and the Cue will run from 20 April 2023 until 15 July 2023 at the Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre. Book tickets to The Motive and The Cue at the Noel Coward Theatre in London Photos: Rehearsals of The Motive and the Cue [ngg src="galleries" ids="1120" display="pro_tile"]

Further casting has been revealed for The Motive and the Cue at the National Theatre. Directed by Sam Mendes, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child writer Jack Thorne's new play is to premiere at the National Theatre 's Lyttelton Theatre from 20 April 2023. Olivier Award-winning actress Janie Dee is joining the cast as Scottish-American actress Eileen Hurlie. Hurlie played Gertrude in Gielgud's Hamlet. As announced last November, she joins a cast that includes Johnny Flynn (Emma, Hangmen) as Richard Burton, Tuppence Middleton (Downton Abbey) as Elizabeth Taylor and Mark Gatiss (Sherlock) as John Gielgud. Dee was last at the National Theatre in Stephen Sondheim's Follies; and is set to star in Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends at the Gielgud Theatre in London from 16 September 2023. Other cast in The Motive and the Cue include Aaron Anthony, Tom Babbage, Allan Corduner, Elena Delia, Ryan Ellsworth, Phoebe Horn, Aysha Kala, Luke Norris, Huw Parmenter, David Ricardo-Pearce, David Tarkenter, Kate Tydman, Laurence Ubong Williams and Michael Walters. The production was originally announced in July last year and explores British acting legends Richard Burton and John Gielgud and how they staged a production of Hamlet on Broadway in 1964. At the time, Burton and Taylor had just married after meeting on the set of Cleopatra, and were the most famous couple in the world. Alongside Sam Mendes in the creative team will be production design by Es Devlin, costume design by Katrina Lindsay, lighting design by Jon Clark, composer Benjamin Kwasi Burrell, sound designer Paul Arditti, and video designer Luke Halls. The Associate director will be Zoe Ford Burnett. The play is based on the books "John Gielgud Directs Richard Burton in Hamlet" by Richard Sterne, and "Letters From an Actor" by William Redfield. The play is a joint production between the National Theatre and Sam Mendes and Caro Newling's Neal Street Productions. Another of their co-productions, The Lehman Trilogy, is now playing at the West End's Gillian Lynne Theatre, with Michael Balogun, Hadley Fraser and Nigel Lindsay starring in the play. Mark Gatiss is currently directing the West End transfer of his Chichester hit comedy The Unfriend starring fellow League of Gentlemen Reece Shearsmith, which is playing at the Criterion Theatre until 16 April 2023. Gatiss is also directing new comedy The Way Old Friends Do, coming to the Park Theatre on 15 March 2023. The Motive and the Cue will run from 20 April 2023 until 15 July 2023 at the Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre. Book tickets to The Motive and The Cue at the Noel Coward Theatre in London

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child writer Jack Thorne's new play The Motive and the Cue is to premiere at the National Theatre 's Lyttelton Theatre on 2 May 2023, with previews from 20 April 2023. The production was announced in July of this year, and now the date and cast has been set. The play explores British acting legends Richard Burton and John Gielgud and how they staged a production of Hamlet on Broadway in 1964. At the time Burton and Taylor had just married after meeting on the set of Cleopatra, and were the most famous couple in the world. Directed by Sam Mendes, The Motive and the Cue will star Johnny Flynn (Emma, Hangmen) as Richard Burton, Tuppence Middleton (Downton Abbey) as Elizabeth Taylor and Mark Gatiss (Sherlock) as John Gielgud. The cast will also feature Allan Corduner, Ryan Ellsworth, Aysha Kala, Luke Norris, Michael Walters and Laurence Ubong Williams. Alongside Sam Mendes in the creative team will be production design by Es Devlin, costume design by Katrina Lindsay, lighting design by Jon Clark, composer Benjamin Kwasi Burrell, sound designer Paul Arditti, and video designer Luke Halls. The Associate director will be Zoe Ford Burnett. The play is based on the books "John Gielgud Directs Richard Burton in Hamlet" by Richard Sterne, and "Letters From an Actor" by William Redfield. The play is a joint production between the National Theatre and Sam Mendes and Caro Newling's Neal Street Productions. Another of their co-productions, The Lehman Trilogy, is transferring into the West End next year, with Michael Balogun, Hadley Fraser and Nigel Lindsay starring in the play at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from 24 January 2023. Mark Gatiss is currently directing the West End transfer of his Chichester hit comedy The Unfriend starring fellow League of Gentlemen Reece Shearsmith, which opens at the Criterion Theatre from 15 January 2023. He is also directing new comedy The Way Old Friends Do, coming to the Park Theatre in 2023. The Motive and the Cue will run from 20 April 2023 until 15 July 2023 at the Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre. Book tickets to The Motive and The Cue at the Noel Coward Theatre in London

Oscar winning director Sam Mendes and playwright Jack Thorne will premiere a new play - The Motive and the Cue - at the National Theatre in London next year. Tipped to be a landmark production, The Motive and the Cue explores the staging of the 1964 Broadway production of Hamlet in which Sir John Gielgud directed iconic film star Richard Burton. The drama is the result of two years of writing and workshops with the source material coming from two out of print books (Richard Sterne’s John Gielgud Directs Richard Burton in Hamlet and William Redfield’s Letters From an Actor). The play is based on Gielgud's 1964 pared down production of Shakespeare's Hamlet which played at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater with Burton starring as the Danish prince. The high profile play is a joint production between the National Theatre and Neal Street Productions, who previously collaborated on the Tony winning The Lehman Trilogy. Rehearsals for The Motive and the Cue will reportedly begin in late January or early February. Casting for The Motive and the Cue is to be announced. Joining Thorne and Mendes in the creative team will be Es Devlin(set design), Katrina Lindsay (costume), Jon Clark (lighting), Paul Arditti (sound) and Kwasi Burrel (composer). Full production dates to be announced. Book tickets to The Motive and The Cue at the Noel Coward Theatre in London