The Motive and the Cue
at the Noël Coward Theatre
by Jack Thorne
A co-production with Neal Street Productions
Booking and details
Noël Coward Theatre
85-88 St Martin’s Lane, London, WC2N 4AP
Ticket bookings are processed on a 3rd party site operated by Delfont Mackintosh Theatres. Your personal and booking data will be shared with the National Theatre for analytical purposes.
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 hugely celebrated production of The Motive and the Cue transfers to the West End this December for 15 weeks only, following a sold-out run at the National Theatre.
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.
Performed Until 23 March 2024 in the Noël Coward Theatre.
Reviews
Financial Times
‘Funny, witty and utterly compelling’
WhatsOnStage
Broadway World
The Times
‘Tuppence Middleton smoulders as Elizabeth Taylor’
Tatler
Nominated for three Olivier Awards 2024 including:
- Best New Play
- Best Actor – Mark Gatiss
- Best Director – Sam Mendes
Video
Gallery
Production images
Portrait gallery
Photos by Michael Wharley
Suitability
Please note: This production contains strong language and adult themes, with some bright lighting. E-cigarettes are smoked onstage in this production.
Supporters
Supported by Mark Pigott KBE, KStJ, The Polonsky Foundation, Lawton W Fitt & James I McLaren Foundation, Dr Abe Peled, Monica Gerard-Sharp and Ali Wambold and Rosetrees Trust.
This play is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Plays Award.
This production is supported by the National Theatre’s Official Hotel Partner Edwardian Hotels.
Cast
Rebecca Collingwood
Rebecca Collingwood trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Allan Corduner
For the National: The Motive and the Cue, Two Thousand Years and The Beaux’ Stratagem.
Elena Delia
For the National: The Motive and the Cue
Ryan Ellsworth
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath and The Motive at the Cue (also Noël Coward)
Mark Extance
For the National: The Motive and the Cue, Downstate, Three Days in the Country, Scenes from an Execution, Travelling Light and London Assurance
Johnny Flynn
For the National: The Motive and the Cue
Mark Gatiss
For the National: The Motive and the Cue, Three Days in the Country and Season’s Greetings.
Mia Khan
Mia Khan is an actor, singer and writer.
Daniel Krikler
Dillon Evans / Waiter / Understudy Robert Milli, Clement Fowler, Frederick Young
Daniel Krikler
Daniel Krikler trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and Laine Theatre Arts.
Shaun Yusuf McKee
For the National Theatre: War Horse
Tuppence Middleton
For the National: The Motive and the Cue
Luke Norris
For the National: The Normal Heart, Antigone, The Kitchen, The Habit of Art and War Horse (also in the West End).
Huw Parmenter
For the National: The Motive and the Cue and Jekyll and Hyde
Stephanie Siadatan
Stephanie Siadatan trained at Arts Educational Schools London and Margie Haber studios in LA.
Adam Sina
Adam Sina trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
David Tarkenter
For the National: The Motive and the Cue and Red Barn
Kate Tydman
For the National: The Motive and the Cue and Top Girls
Laurence Ubong Williams
For the National: The Motive and the Cue and The Welkin
Sarah Woodward
Sarah Woodward trained at RADA.
Production team
Playwright
Jack Thorne
Jack Thorne
Director
Sam Mendes
Sam Mendes
Sam Mendes founded and ran the Donmar Warehouse in London for ten years.
Set Designer
Es Devlin
Es Devlin
Costume Designer
Katrina Lindsay
Katrina Lindsay
Katrina Lindsay is an associate of the National Theatre and a member of the theatre design collective Scene/Change.
Lighting Designer
Jon Clark
Jon Clark
Jon Clark is a Tony and Olivier award-winning lighting designer. He has designed extensively in the West End, on Broadway, for the National Theatre, Royal Opera House, Royal Shakespeare Company and with many other companies in the UK and internationally.
Composer
Benjamin Kwasi Burrell
Benjamin Kwasi Burrell
Benjamin Kwasi Burrell is the Musical Director of the House and Garage Orchestra.
Sound Designer
Casting
Alastair Coomer CDG
Alastair Coomer CDG
For the National Theatre: over 50 productions including The Grapes of Wrath, Mnemonic (2024), Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The House of Bernarda Alba, Othello, The Crucible (also West End), Blues for an Alabama Sky, The Corn is Green, The Normal Heart, The Welkin, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Mosquitoes, This House, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, One Man, Two Guvnors and War Horse
Casting
Naomi Downham
Naomi Downham
For the National Theatre, as casting director: The Grapes of Wrath, Underdog: The Other Other Brontë (also Northern Stage), The House of Bernarda Alba, The Crucible (also West End), The Ocean at the End of the Lane (UK tour), Hamlet (school tour) and Jekyll & Hyde (school tour)
West End Director
Zoé Ford Burnett
Zoé Ford Burnett
Zoé Ford Burnett has worked as director and associate director on productions at the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Donmar Warehouse, Shakespeare’s Globe, Arcola Theatre, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Barbican, Broadway, West End and Los Angeles.
Asociate Director
Yasmin Hafesji
Yasmin Hafesji
For the National Theatre: London Tide and The Motive and the Cue
Associate Set Designer
Amalie White
Amalie White
Amalie White is a Design Director at Es Devlin Studio and has worked closely with Es Devlin since 2018.
Associate Lighting Designer
Ben Jacobs
Ben Jacobs
For the National: Dear England and ANNA (as associate lighting designer)
Associate Lighting Designer
George Lumkin
George Lumkin
Dialect Coach
Charmian Hoare
Charmian Hoare
Recent National Theatre includes: Underdog: The Other Other Brontë (also with Northern Stage), Till the Stars Come Down, The Motive and the Cue, The Lehman Trilogy (also West End), Jack Absolute Flies Again, Our Generation (also at Chichester)
The Motive and the Cue ticket prices
All bookings are handled by the Noel Coward Theatre Box Office
Tickets from £20
Groups rate
10+ tickets
Monday – Thursday performances
Bands A and B – £50 (£48.50 + £1.50)
Excluding performances in the weeks beginning 25 December, 1 January and 12 February
A maximum of 50-60 tickets per performance.
Delfont Mackintosh Group booking information
Schools rate
10+ tickets
Band C – £25 (£23.50 + £1.50)
A free teacher ticket is available for every 10 paid tickets ordered (11 tickets for the price of 10).
Excluding performances in the weeks beginning 25 December, 1 January and 12 February
A maximum of 50-60 tickets per performance.
Delfont Mackintosh Schools booking information
Group and Education 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).
Assisted performances
BSL Interpreted performance
Saturday 3 February at 2pm
Audio-Described performances
Thursday 29 February at 7.30pm
Saturday 16 March at 2pm
Captioned performances
Tuesday 20 February at 7.30pm
Saturday 9 March at 2pm
Access tickets are bookable via Delfont Mackintosh only.
Email: access@delfontmackintosh.co.uk
Phone the Access booking line: 0344 482 5137 (open 10am – 6pm daily, excluding Bank Holidays).
Artwork photography by Michael Wharley