

National Theatre Live: Phèdre
“The result is carnage.”
Synopsis
A new English adaptation of the classic French tragedy Phèdre by Jean Racine (1639-1699). It retells the ancient Greek tale of the wife of the Atenian King Theseus, who conceived a forbidden love for his son (by an earlier wife) Hyppolytus. All ends badly for all. One of the first five episodes also released on terrestrial TV on a 2009 BBC TV series titled "National Theatre Live".
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official Trailer: Phèdre with Helen Mirren and Dominic Cooper | National Theatre at HomeOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2020-12-01
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Robin Lough, Nicholas Hytner
- Screenplay & Story
- Jean Racine
- Original Score
- Adam Cork
- Original Title
- National Theatre Live: Phèdre
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 5m
- Production Studios
- National Theatre
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Robin Lough, Nicholas Hytner
Jean Racine
Adam Cork
Department Leadership Roster
Robin Lough
Director
Nicholas Hytner
Director
Bob Crowley
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for National Theatre Live: Phèdre.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring National Theatre Live: Phèdre.
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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: Phèdre
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is National Theatre Live: Phèdre about?
A new English adaptation of the classic French tragedy Phèdre by Jean Racine (1639-1699). It retells the ancient Greek tale of the wife of the Atenian King Theseus, who conceived a forbidden love for his son (by an earlier wife) Hyppolytus. All ends badly for all. One of the first five episodes also released on terrestrial TV on a 2009 BBC TV series titled "National Theatre Live".
Who directed National Theatre Live: Phèdre?
National Theatre Live: Phèdre was directed by Robin Lough, Nicholas Hytner.
Who stars in National Theatre Live: Phèdre?
The principal cast of National Theatre Live: Phèdre includes Helen Mirren, Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Chipo Chung, John Shrapnel.
When was National Theatre Live: Phèdre released and how long is it?
National Theatre Live: Phèdre was released in 2009 with a total runtime of 2h 5m.
Who composed the musical score for National Theatre Live: Phèdre?
The original motion picture soundtrack for National Theatre Live: Phèdre was composed by Adam Cork.
What is the age rating and content advisory for National Theatre Live: Phèdre?
National Theatre Live: Phèdre holds official age classifications: GB: 12A (12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.).




















