Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • Playing Burton

  • By: Mark Jenkins
  • Narrated by: Matthew Rhys
  • Length: 1 hr and 19 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (51 ratings)

$0.00 for first 30 days

Thousands of incredible audiobooks and podcasts to take wherever you go.
Immerse yourself in a world of storytelling with the Plus Catalogue - unlimited listening to thousands of select audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Playing Burton cover art

Playing Burton

By: Mark Jenkins
Narrated by: Matthew Rhys
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Buy Now for £7.99

Buy Now for £7.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes cover art
This Much Is True cover art
Born to Run cover art
Pride and Prejudice cover art
Persuasion cover art
Stories to Tell cover art
The Silmarillion cover art
Jane Eyre cover art
David Copperfield cover art
Musashi cover art
Anna Karenina cover art
Apparently There Were Complaints cover art
Watership Down cover art
Emma [Naxos Edition] cover art
Nicholas Nickleby cover art
My Happy Days in Hollywood cover art

Summary

Emmy Award winner Matthew Rhys stars in this fascinating and award-winning one-man show about international star of stage and screen Richard Burton. Written by Mark Jenkins, Playing Burton offers a penetrating look at the notorious actor’s life, from growing up in an impoverished mining community in South Wales to becoming one of the greatest performers of his generation. Following his passionate, though tempestuous, love affair with Elizabeth Taylor and his tragic - and very public - battle with alcoholism, Playing Burton is a soulful exploration of fame, ambition, and identity told from the perspective of the megastar who experienced it all.

Please note: Playing Burton contains adult language and themes.

©2020 Mark Jenkins (P)2020 AO Media LLC

Love Books? You'll Love Audible.

Transform your day

Transform your day

Replace endless scrolling with endless listening. Chores can be fun.

Listen everywhere

Listen everywhere

You can’t turn pages while you drive—but you can press play.

Carry your entire Library

Carry your entire Library

Your stories go where you go. Audiobooks don’t weigh a thing.

Listen and learn

Listen and learn

Discover stories that can change your mind, your well-being, and your life.

Reach your reading goals

Reach your reading goals

Download titles to listen offline, wherever you are in the world.

Find your niche

Find your niche

WIth thousands of titles to explore, there’s something for everyone.

Try for £0.00 £7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

What listeners say about Playing Burton

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    40
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    45
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    38
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

wonderful

This is a fascinating look into the life of a British actor icon genius. I absolutely loves it and everyone should read it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very interesting. Very well read.

A very interesting and easy listen. Mathew Rhys' voice and characterisation are perfect for Richard Burton.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding performance by Matthew Rhys.

I absolutely loved this. Listened to it twice in one day. Extraordinary performance by Matthew Rhys - his delivery is flawless. Subject matter interesting and kept me engaged.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding

I was gripped from the first sentence. Lost an hour of time but gained a lifetime experience. superb writing and narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Should be on stage

Loved it so much so well told and written I really could see this at small theatre like the one I love in Dublin The Gate.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

“I wonder who the king is screwing tonight!”

For many of us God has to be Welsh, and that is because we fell in love with the voice of Richard Burton. So while this in no way sounds like him, the cadence and spirit of the man is so well rendered as to be of no consequence. The sprinkling of references to his works like confetti, and the knowing quotes as penetrating as in the bridal bed. Lay back, and enjoy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Matthew Rhys is wonderful

Beautifully articulated by Matthew Rhys he brought Richard Burton back to life. I didn’t want it to end. The stories were outrageous and unbelievable, classic Hollywood reprobate. A great listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Rhys is Burton

Masterclass by Matthew Rhys on his portrayal of the Great Welsh Bard.
This would be a must see on the stage or a Biographical documentry film.
Diolch yn fawr iawn !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

OMG. This is brilliant!

Outstanding performance. If Roger Lewis wants someone to play Burton soon, he should look no further than this performance.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!