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National Theatre Live: Dear Octopus poster
IMDb20242h 31mUnited Kingdom

National Theatre Live: Dear Octopus

“The family, from whose tentacles we can never quite escape.”

Synopsis

When a golden wedding anniversary reunites the Randolph family on the eve of WWII, Dora and Charles must reckon with the adults their children have become. Their children, meanwhile, are haunted by the memory of the family they once were. As the weekend's celebrations unfold, the family walks a tightrope between intimacy and estrangement, camaraderie and rivalry, love and hate. Heartbreaking and joyful, this captivating revival of Dodie Smith's play is a moving dissection of family and what it means to grow up and return home.

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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

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

Dear Octopus | Official Trailer | National Theatre at HomeOfficial

Type: Trailer • Published 2024-06-07

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Emily Burns
Screenplay & Story
Dodie Smith
Original Score
Nico Muhly
Original Title
National Theatre Live: Dear Octopus
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
2h 31m
Production Studios
National Theatre

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Emily Burns

Screenplay & Story

Dodie Smith

Original Score & Music

Nico Muhly

Department Leadership Roster

Emily Burns

Director

Frankie Bradshaw

Costume Design

Official cinematic photography and background stills for National Theatre Live: Dear Octopus.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring National Theatre Live: Dear Octopus.

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: Dear Octopus

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

What is National Theatre Live: Dear Octopus about?

When a golden wedding anniversary reunites the Randolph family on the eve of WWII, Dora and Charles must reckon with the adults their children have become. Their children, meanwhile, are haunted by the memory of the family they once were. As the weekend's celebrations unfold, the family walks a tightrope between intimacy and estrangement, camaraderie and rivalry, love and hate. Heartbreaking and joyful, this captivating revival of Dodie Smith's play is a moving dissection of family and what it means to grow up and return home.

Who directed National Theatre Live: Dear Octopus?

National Theatre Live: Dear Octopus was directed by Emily Burns.

Who stars in National Theatre Live: Dear Octopus?

The principal cast of National Theatre Live: Dear Octopus includes Bessie Carter, Pandora Colin, Bethan Cullinane, Lindsay Duncan, Kate Fahy.

When was National Theatre Live: Dear Octopus released and how long is it?

National Theatre Live: Dear Octopus was released in 2024 with a total runtime of 2h 31m.

Who composed the musical score for National Theatre Live: Dear Octopus?

The original motion picture soundtrack for National Theatre Live: Dear Octopus was composed by Nico Muhly.