7.3 / 10(3 votes)IMDb20151h 43mUnited Kingdom

National Theatre Live: The Hard Problem

Synopsis

Acclaimed playwright Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love, Arcadia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead) returns to the National Theatre with his highly-anticipated new play The Hard Problem, directed by Nicholas Hytner (Othello, Hamlet, One Man, Two Guvnors). Hilary, a young psychology researcher at a brainscience institute, is nursing a private sorrow and a troubling question at work, where psychology and biology meet. If there is nothing but matter, what is consciousness? This is ‘the hard problem’ which puts Hilary at odds with her colleagues who include her first mentor Spike, her boss Leo and the billionaire founder of the institute, Jerry. Is the day coming when the computer and the fMRI scanner will answer all the questions psychology can ask? Meanwhile Hilary needs a miracle, and she is prepared to pray for one.

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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

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

National Theatre Live: Tom Stoppard's The Hard ProblemOfficial

Type: Trailer • Published 2015-04-16

Top Cast

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Damien Molony

Spike

Olivia Vinall

Hilary

Parth Thakerar

Amal

Jonathan Coy

Leo

Rosie Hilal

Julia

Lucy Robinson

Ursula

Anthony Calf

Jerry

Daisy Jacob

Cathy

Vera Chok

Kristin Atherton

Elaine (on film)

Benjamin Powell

Pianist

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

April 16, 2015

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director: Nicholas Hytner, Robin Lough
Screenplay & Story: Tom Stoppard
Original Score: Johann Sebastian Bach
Original Title: National Theatre Live: The Hard Problem
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Spoken Languages: English
Runtime: 1h 43m
Production Studios: National Theatre

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Nicholas Hytner, Robin Lough

Screenplay & Story

Tom Stoppard

Original Score & Music

Johann Sebastian Bach

Producers

David Sabel, Emma Keith

Department Leadership Roster

Emma Keith

Producer

Bob Crowley

Costume Design

Nicholas Hytner

Director

Robin Lough

Director

Age Classification & Content Advisories

Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.

International Certification Matrix

United Kingdom (BBFC)12A

12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.

Production Stills & Gallery

Official cinematic photography and background stills for National Theatre Live: The Hard Problem.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring National Theatre Live: The Hard Problem.

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29401 titles

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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