This electrifying brand-new play directed by Sam Mendes brings Richard Burton and John Gielgud’s infamous Hamlet rehearsals to the big screen, with Johnny Flynn and Mark Gatiss. a new play by Jack Thorne directed by Sam Mendes Sam Mendes (The Lehman Trilogy) directs Mark Gatiss as John Gielgud and Johnny Flynn as Richard Burton in this fierce and funny new play. 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. Written by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) and designed by Es Devlin (The Crucible), the Evening Standard award-winning best new play was filmed live during a sold-out run at the National Theatre. ‘A brilliant, compassionate new play’ Financial Times ‘Immaculately directed by Sam Mendes’ The Times ‘Mark Gatiss gives the performance of his career’ The Telegraph Will give you goosebumps’ The Independent ‘Smooth and sophisticated’ Whats on Stage