The Motive and the Cue

[JennyWreny]

I've booked to see this. Trying not to give any spoilers but I know it's based on a real event/s and I'd like to read more about it before I see the play. Has anyone seen it and could suggest any good pre-show reading/watching. Thinking I should at least watch the play that's within the play IYKWIM.

Apparently it is based on Letters From an Actor by William Redfield and John Gielgud Directs Richard Burton in Hamlet by Richard L Stern. Found on SeatPlan website.

Read Hamlet! I saw it last weekend - it's fabulous.

It is amazing!! Best thing I saw last year and I saw a lot last year.
Mark Gatiss is phenomenal - I think he is a superb character actor.
The end!!! Goose bumps!!!

Thanks @Blackcountryexile I've just had a look and they aren't available at my local library and (I guess unsurprisingly) seem to be tricky to get hold of but think I might have found the first one at WH Smith.

@beeswain I found Burton's Hamlet on YouTube in full so will probably try and watch that.

I was looking at the cast list and while "Johnny Flynn - Richard Burton (Hamlet)" is fairly straightforward, some of the others are confusing. I def need to read/watch Hamlet beforehand and maybe google some of the other characters - Gielgud's assistant Jessica Levy for example.

Very excited to go and see it now!!!

Thank you everyone

I think it might be helpful to read/watch Hamlet before, but having said that it’s an enjoyable play even without recent Hamlet refresher!

@JennyWreny have you seen the play yet? How was it?

I'm just about to book tickets so be good to hear your view.

Have seen Hamlet a few times & studied the play at school but will definitely look for the Burton version.

@Floralovesflowers I saw it yesterday! It was fantastic. I loved it! Definitely go and see it if you can. I watched Andrew Scott's Hamlet (because I'm still sad I missed Vanya last year) which is on YouTube. I started watching RB Hamlet, but found it a bit difficult to follow because of the quality (understandable). I also watched the Gielgud interview with David Frost and the Burton interview with Parkinson. They are both on YouTube.

Thanks for replying @JennyWreny , glad you enjoyed it.

I've booked the tickets so really looking forward to it.

Sort you missed Andrew Scott's Uncle Vanya -it's showing in cinemas in a couple weeks so could see it then. I've booked for that too.

I found it really boring and left in the interval