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National Theatre Live: Trouble in Mind poster
IMDb20212h 12mUnited Kingdom

National Theatre Live: Trouble in Mind

“A radical satire of racism in theatre.”

Synopsis

In 1950s America, protests for racial equality erupt in the face of voter suppression. On Broadway, Wiletta Mayer, a talented black actress, begins rehearsals for a new play about racism – written and directed by two white men. When Wiletta finds that her arguments to tell the truth of the story are dismissed, she decides to take action. First staged over 60 years ago, Trouble in Mind is widely considered the masterpiece of actress and playwright Alice Childress – a wry and radical satire of racism in theatre.

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Nancy Medina, Christine Lalla
Screenplay & Story
Alice Childress
Original Score
Nubiya Brandon, Raffy Bushman
Original Title
National Theatre Live: Trouble in Mind
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
2h 12m
Production Studios
National Theatre

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Nancy Medina, Christine Lalla

Screenplay & Story

Alice Childress

Original Score & Music

Nubiya Brandon, Raffy Bushman

Department Leadership Roster

Nancy Medina

Director

Alice Childress

Writer

Christine Lalla

Director

Official cinematic photography and background stills for National Theatre Live: Trouble in Mind.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring National Theatre Live: Trouble in Mind.

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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: Trouble in Mind

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

What is National Theatre Live: Trouble in Mind about?

In 1950s America, protests for racial equality erupt in the face of voter suppression. On Broadway, Wiletta Mayer, a talented black actress, begins rehearsals for a new play about racism – written and directed by two white men. When Wiletta finds that her arguments to tell the truth of the story are dismissed, she decides to take action. First staged over 60 years ago, Trouble in Mind is widely considered the masterpiece of actress and playwright Alice Childress – a wry and radical satire of racism in theatre.

Who directed National Theatre Live: Trouble in Mind?

National Theatre Live: Trouble in Mind was directed by Nancy Medina, Christine Lalla.

Who stars in National Theatre Live: Trouble in Mind?

The principal cast of National Theatre Live: Trouble in Mind includes Daniel Adeosun, Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Joe Bannister, Emma Canning, John Hollingworth.

When was National Theatre Live: Trouble in Mind released and how long is it?

National Theatre Live: Trouble in Mind was released in 2021 with a total runtime of 2h 12m.

Who composed the musical score for National Theatre Live: Trouble in Mind?

The original motion picture soundtrack for National Theatre Live: Trouble in Mind was composed by Nubiya Brandon, Raffy Bushman.