Jason Donovan stars in The King's Speech
(© Hugh Glendinning)
The King's Speech – the play from which the Oscar-winning movie that starred Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush was adapted – will set out on its first national tour in 2015.
Starring Raymond Coulthard as King George VI and Jason Donovan as his Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue, the production will be directed by Birmingham Rep's Roxana Silbert.
The King's Speech opens at Chichester Festival Theatre on 5 February 2015.
The play tells the story of King George VI's relationship with his speech therapist, as the country stands on the brink of World War II. It played the West End in 2012.
Donovan, who has recently appeared on stage in Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Annie Get Your Gun, said: "I am really looking forward to starting rehearsals for 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 will be fascinating to play."
Coulthard, who returns to Chichester where he appeared in Heartbreak Hotel, added: "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 is safe to say I have found it."
