The Motive and the Cue by Jack Thorne

The Motive and the Cue by Jack Thorne

1964: Richard Burton, the firebrand Welsh actor, newly married to movie star Elizabeth Taylor, is to play the title role in an experimental new production of Hamlet under the exacting direction of John Gielgud. But as rehearsals progress, the collaboration between actor and director soon threatens to unravel. One of them is the most famous movie star in the world; the other, a patrician from an earlier age of theatre. The stage is set for two titans to collide. Jack Thorne's The Motive and the Cue is a fierce, funny play which offers a glimpse into the politics of a rehearsal room and the relationship between art and celebrity. This edition was published alongside the West End transfer in 2023, following its world premiere at the National Theatre, London, earlier that year. Originally commissioned and co-produced by Neal Street Productions, it was directed by Sam Mendes, and starred Johnny Flynn as Burton, Mark Gatiss as Gielgud and Tuppence Middleton as Taylor. It was named Best Play at the 2023 Evening Standard Theatre Awards, and Best New Play at the 2024 Critics' Circle Theatre Awards.

'Marvellous.. a quite wonderful new play... full of compassion, funny, witty and utterly compelling... This play is Thorne and Mendes's own love letter to the stage, full of both intellect and passion, clever and profoundly moving'

* WhatsOnStage *

'Enjoyable and hugely adroit'

* Evening Standard *

'Witty, deft, and touching... a palpable hit'

* Telegraph *

'Magical... deeply affecting... not just a heartfelt plea for the power of theatre, but a moving, often very funny, story about two generations teasing and provoking one another'

* Independent *

'Fascinating... a dual of egos in which not just the play, but the two men's sense of their selves is at stake'

* The Stage *

'A riotous peek behind the scenes... sensational'

* Time Out *

'Thrilling... an undeniably magnificent tour de force. Theatre should thank its lucky stars for Thorne. He has reminded us all why we went to the theatre and why we continue to go'

* Broadway World *

'Blazingly triumphant... a story about humanity, vulnerability, reconciliation'

* TheatreCat *

'Beautifully written... Jack Thorne's dramatisation of the events is powerful and entertaining in equal measure'

* The Upcoming *

'Stunning... Thorne's gloriously rich script subtly dissects the various relationships of the players, and it's magical to see it all unfold... a brilliant piece of theatre'

* Theatre Weekly *

'Part mischievous comedy and part docu-drama... a funny and affectionate love letter from theatre to itself'

* Reviews Hub *

'Magic... breathtaking in its simplicity and beauty'

* LondonTheatre1 *

Jack Thorne’s other plays include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the end of history..., Junkyard, and adaptations of After Life, A Christmas Carol and Woyzeck. He is a BAFTA-winning screenwriter whose television work includes His Dark Materials, Then Barbara Met Alan (with Genevieve Barr), The Eddy, Help, The Accident, Kiri, National Treasure and This is England ’86/’88/’90.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781839043116
ISBN 10	1839043113
Title	The Motive and the Cue
Author	Jack Thorne
Series	Nhb Modern Plays
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Nick Hern Books
Year published	2023-12-14
Number of pages	104
Prizes	Winner of Best New Play - Critics' Circle Awards 2024, Winner of Best Play - Evening Standard Awards 2023
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.