Sam Mendes (“The Lehman Trilogy”) directs Mark Gatiss as John Gielgud and Johnny Flynn as Richard Burton in the fierce and funny new play, “The Motive and the Cue.” This special offering from National Theatre Live comes to the Orcas Center screen on Thursday, March 13 at 6 p.m.

1964: Burton, newly married to Elizabeth Taylor, is to play the title role in an experimental new Broadway production of Hamlet under 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.

Ticket prices range from $10-$63 with an additional $2 ticketing fee. Tickets are available online at www.OrcasCenter.org, by phone at 360-376-2281 ext 100 or in-person at the box office an hour prior to the performance.