Raymond Coulthard is to play King George VI and Jason Donovan will be his Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue in David Seidler’s play The King’s Speech which is to open at Birmingham REP.
Raymond Coulthard’s extensive theatre credits include Helen Edmundson’s The Heresy of Love and Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Thomas Middleton’s Women Beware Women at the National Theatre. On television, he is best known for playing Miles Egerton in the ITV series Mr Selfridge.
Talking about The King’s Speech, he said, “having been away from theatre for a couple of years I was hoping to find a project that would truly challenge me. I think it’s safe to say I’ve found it!”
Jason Donovan’s theatre credits include Sweeney Todd, The Sound of Music, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre, London in 2009.
He said, “I’m really looking forward to The King’s Speech and getting into the character of Logue. He was such an interesting and remarkable Australian who achieved so much in a very challenging situation and I think he’ll be fascinating to play.”
The King’s Speech is the story of how King Edward VIII sparked controversy with his love for married socialite Wallis Simpson. As his position becomes untenable, his brother Bertie, who has shied away from the public eye because of a stammer, is thrust into the spotlight as his likely successor.
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 cast also includes Jeremy Bennett, Nicholas Blane, John Fagan, Jamie Hinde, Felicity Houlbrooke, William Hoyland, Claire Lams, Katy Stephens and Martin Turner.
Birmingham REP’s artistic director Roxanna Silbert directs. Design is by Tom Piper, with lighting by Ollie Fenwick. Nick Powell has composed the music and movement is by Polly Bennett.
The King’s Speech, a co-production between Birmingham REP and Chichester Festival Theatre, runs from Wednesday 25 February until Saturday 7 March.