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National Theatre Live: Life of Pi poster
IMDb20232h 30mUnited Kingdom

National Theatre Live: Life of Pi

Synopsis

Puppetry, magic and storytelling combine in a unique, Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation of the best-selling novel. After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, a 16-year-old boy named Pi is stranded on a lifeboat with four other survivors – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal tiger. Filmed live in London’s West End and featuring state-of-the-art visuals, the epic journey of endurance and hope is bought to life in a breath-taking new way for cinemas screens.

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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.

Life of Pi: Official Trailer - In Cinemas 30 March | National Theatre LiveOfficial

Type: Trailer • Published 2023-02-01

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Max Webster
Screenplay & Story
Lolita Chakrabarti, Yann Martel
Original Score
Andrew T. Mackay
Original Title
National Theatre Live: Life of Pi
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
2h 30m
Production Studios
Simon Friend Entertainment, National Theatre

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Max Webster

Screenplay & Story

Lolita Chakrabarti, Yann Martel

Original Score & Music

Andrew T. Mackay

Literary Origin & Source Material
Novel:Yann Martel

Department Leadership Roster

Max Webster

Max Webster

Director

Lolita Chakrabarti

Lolita Chakrabarti

Writer

Official cinematic photography and background stills for National Theatre Live: Life of Pi.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring National Theatre Live: Life of Pi.

National Theatre Live

All productions released by National Theatre Live, UK – either done directly by the Royal National Theatre or other UK venues/producers. [**NationalTheatre.org.uk**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk) / [**NTLive.com**](https://www.ntlive.com) / [**NTatHome.com**](https://www.ntathome.com) (for its US equivalent, see [**BroadwayHD**](https://www.tmdb.org/company/103196-broadwayhd) and site [**BroadwayHD.com**](https://www.broadwayhd.com).) Some productions were filmed _solely_ for their paid streaming channel "National Theatre at Home", and were branded without the "National Theatre Live" posters which those that also screened in cinemas typically got posters with. (plus: There was a 2009 BBC TV series entry titled "National Theatre Live" with the first five filmed productions that featured additional commentary, at #280519, but this was deleted by a mod!) ______________________________________________________________________ • **2024.05.09.Thu: Plays 1-100** - [**nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25) _"National Theatre Live broadcast its 100th title, Nye, live from the Olivier stage. Now buckle up as we’re going to take you on a journey through all 100 NT Lives (you heard that right). From our first to our most recent, join us to recount all the incredible plays that have made it from the stage to the screen – with some fun facts thrown in for good measure!"_ ______________________________________________________________________ **What is National Theatre Live (NTL) & National Theatre at Home (NTaH)?** ([**Wikipedia**](https://w.wiki/9grq)) National Theatre Live is an initiative from the National Theatre (formerly "Royal National Theatre") in London, who record their own plays (and also may do/did some live broadcasts to cinemas too) and other non-National Theatre productions from selected indie/West-End theatre plays in London and beyond in the UK (eg. Chichester, et al.). Unless it's a live cinema viewing, typically once the live theatre run has ended these are then shown in cinemas. NTL cinema audiences are able to view play recordings at cinema screenings in the UK and globally (eg. Australia, Taiwan, et al.), with cinema releases either concurrently (or after an initial cinema release) also released on their paid streaming service National Theatre at Home. NTaH launched in 2020 offering access to over 100 productions, with new titles added monthly. All titles include captions, over 90% available with Audio Description, and a selection available in British Sign Language (BSL). Reaching theatre audiences globally, streaming to over 184 countries, a majority of audiences having never visited the National Theatre's South Bank home, and is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. 2026 research showed 99% of NTaH's audiences are outside London, with over 60% saying filmed theatre options support wider discoverability and increased overall theatre experiences.

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Frequently Asked Questions About National Theatre Live: Life of Pi

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is National Theatre Live: Life of Pi about?

Puppetry, magic and storytelling combine in a unique, Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation of the best-selling novel. After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, a 16-year-old boy named Pi is stranded on a lifeboat with four other survivors – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal tiger. Filmed live in London’s West End and featuring state-of-the-art visuals, the epic journey of endurance and hope is bought to life in a breath-taking new way for cinemas screens.

Who directed National Theatre Live: Life of Pi?

National Theatre Live: Life of Pi was directed by Max Webster.

Who stars in National Theatre Live: Life of Pi?

The principal cast of National Theatre Live: Life of Pi includes Hiran Abeysekera, Mina Anwar, Tom Espiner, Kirsten Foster, Raj Ghatak.

When was National Theatre Live: Life of Pi released and how long is it?

National Theatre Live: Life of Pi was released in 2023 with a total runtime of 2h 30m.

Who composed the musical score for National Theatre Live: Life of Pi?

The original motion picture soundtrack for National Theatre Live: Life of Pi was composed by Andrew T. Mackay.

Is National Theatre Live: Life of Pi based on a book or true story?

National Theatre Live: Life of Pi is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Yann Martel".