The Motive and The Cue

What Is The Motive and the Cue About?

The Motive and the Cue is a gripping theatrical drama that takes audiences behind the scenes of one of the most celebrated Shakespeare productions in history. The play centres on the legendary 1964 Broadway production of Hamlet, exploring the turbulent creative relationship between its director, John Gielgud, and its star, Richard Burton. At the heart of the story is a fascinating clash of personalities, philosophies, and generations: Gielgud, the patrician classical actor steeped in tradition, and Burton, the fiercely charismatic Welshman who brought raw instinct and movie-star magnetism to the stage. The title itself is drawn from Shakespeare's Hamlet, a play about performance, purpose, and the nature of action, themes that resonate throughout this beautifully layered piece.

Why Is The Motive and the Cue Worth Seeing?

Nick Hytner directed the production, with a script by Jack Thorne, one of the most acclaimed playwrights working in British theatre today. Thorne brings the same sharp intelligence he applied to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to this real-life story, crafting dialogue that crackles with wit, tension, and genuine theatrical insight. The play is as much a meditation on what acting means, and what art costs its practitioners, as it is a biographical drama. For theatre lovers in particular, the chance to see the inner workings of a landmark production rendered on stage is an irresistible proposition. The piece is both deeply entertaining and genuinely moving, with a generosity of spirit toward all its characters.

Cast and Creative Highlights

The production featured Mark Gatiss as John Gielgud and Johnny Flynn as Richard Burton, a pairing that drew widespread critical admiration. Gatiss, widely known for his television work, delivered a performance of exquisite precision and wit, capturing Gielgud's famous fastidiousness without ever reducing him to caricature. Flynn brought intensity and vulnerability to Burton, conveying the complicated interior life of a man caught between populist celebrity and serious artistic ambition. The design and staging, under Hytner's direction, reflected the production's origins at the National Theatre, where it premiered before transferring to the West End's Noël Coward Theatre.

Practical Information for Visitors

The Motive and the Cue played at the Noël Coward Theatre in the West End, a mid-sized venue on St Martin's Lane in the heart of London's Theatreland, close to Leicester Square and Charing Cross stations. The Noël Coward Theatre is a handsome Edwardian auditorium with good sightlines from most seats; however, visitors should check individual seat descriptions when booking, as some side stalls positions can have restricted views. The production has ended its run, but readers interested in future productions from the same creative team are encouraged to check listings regularly.

Similar Shows You Might Enjoy

If The Motive and the Cue appeals to you, there are several other productions that explore the worlds of theatre, creativity, and biography in similarly compelling ways. Patriots is another outstanding piece of drama rooted in real events, while Ink by James Graham examines the personalities and power struggles behind a different kind of cultural institution. For more Shakespeare-adjacent drama, & Juliet offers a lighter, musical take on the Bard's legacy. Fans of Jack Thorne's writing may also wish to explore Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, his landmark stage adaptation, which continues to play at the Palace Theatre.