Raymond Coulthard & Jason Donovan to Lead THE KING'S SPEECH UK Tour

The cast has been announced for The King's Speech - the play from which the Oscar-winning movie was adapted.

Raymond Coulthard as King George VI and Jason Donovan as his Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue are joined by Nicholas Blane, Jamie Hinde, Felicity Houlbrooke, Claire Lams, Katy Stephens and Martin Turner.

Directed by Birmingham Repertory Theatre's Artistic Director Roxana Silbert, the production sets out on its first national tour in 2015, opening at Chichester Festival Theatre on Thursday 5 February 2015 and thenBirmingham Repertory Theatre from Wednesday 25 February 2015

The play tells the iconic story of King George VI's relationship with his speech therapist.

As the world stands on the brink of war, King Edward VIII sparks controversy with his love for married socialite, Wallis Simpson. As Edward's position become increasingly untenable, his brother Bertie, who has previously shied away from the public eye because of a terrible stammer, is thrust in to the spotlight as his likely successor.

With the support of his wife Elizabeth (the much-loved future Queen Mother), Bertie meets maverick speech therapist and failed actor, Lionel Logue, at an office in Harley Street. Together they embark on an unlikely journey to prepare Bertie to lead his country as King George VI.

The King's Speech is the true and heart-warming story of one man's struggle to overcome his personal affliction and, in his country's darkest hour, deliver the now iconic speech broadcast across the globe to inspire his people.

One of the most successful British films of all time, The King's Speech won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director, as well as seven BAFTAs, including Best Film.

The production will be directed by Roxana Silbert, Artistic Director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Previously an Associate Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company and former Artistic Director of Paines Plough, her directing credits include Khandan (Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Royal Court), Of Mice And Men and Tartuffe (both Birmingham Repertory Theatre), the RSC's production of Dunsinane (International Tour & Hampstead Theatre) A Life of Galileo, Measure for Measure, Richard III and A Soldier in Every Son and Iron (Royal Court Downstairs).

To post a comment, you must register and login.