

National Theatre Live: Present Laughter
Synopsis
As he prepares to embark on an overseas tour, star actor Garry Essendine’s colourful life is in danger of spiralling out of control. Engulfed by an escalating identity crisis as his many and various relationships compete for his attention, Garry’s few remaining days at home are a chaotic whirlwind of love, sex, panic and soul-searching.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Present Laughter - Back in cinemas from 18 July | Official Trailer | National Theatre LiveOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2024-06-19
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Matthew Warchus
- Screenplay & Story
- Noël Coward
- Original Title
- National Theatre Live: Present Laughter
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 40m
- Production Studios
- National Theatre, The Old Vic
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Matthew Warchus
Noël Coward
Department Leadership Roster
Matthew Warchus
Director
Noël Coward
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for National Theatre Live: Present Laughter.
Featured In Curated Collections
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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: Present Laughter
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is National Theatre Live: Present Laughter about?
As he prepares to embark on an overseas tour, star actor Garry Essendine’s colourful life is in danger of spiralling out of control. Engulfed by an escalating identity crisis as his many and various relationships compete for his attention, Garry’s few remaining days at home are a chaotic whirlwind of love, sex, panic and soul-searching.
Who directed National Theatre Live: Present Laughter?
National Theatre Live: Present Laughter was directed by Matthew Warchus.
Who stars in National Theatre Live: Present Laughter?
The principal cast of National Theatre Live: Present Laughter includes Andrew Scott, Sophie Thompson, Indira Varma, Kitty Archer, Enzo Cilenti.
When was National Theatre Live: Present Laughter released and how long is it?
National Theatre Live: Present Laughter was released in 2019 with a total runtime of 2h 40m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for National Theatre Live: Present Laughter?
National Theatre Live: Present Laughter holds official age classifications: GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.).
















