The new production of David Seidler’s play, running at the Newbury based theatre from the 20th September until the 2nd November.
Full casting has now been confirmed for Emma Butler’s production which will begin performances next month.
The role of Bertie will be played by Peter Sandys-Clarke, whose West End stage credits include The Letter (Wyndham’s Theatre) Journey’s End (Playhouse and Duke of York’s), When We Are Married (Garrick) and A Daughter’s A Daughter (Trafalgar Studios).
He will be joined by Arthur Hughes who will play Lionel. Best known for roles in the Netflix series The Innocents and in Radio 4’s The Archers, his stage roles include La Cage Aux Folles (Park Theatre), The Solid Life of Sugar Water for Graeae, and the title role in Richard III for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Aamira Challenger (Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution – London County Hall, The Comedy of Errors – Shakespeare’s Globe, and Breeding – King’s Head Theatre) will play Elizabeth.
Rosa Hesmondhalgh (We Could All Be Perfect – Sheffield Crucible, Children of the Night – Cast Doncaster, and The Snow Queen – Yvonne Arnaud), will play Myrtle Logue and Wallis Simpson.
Christopher Naylor (returning toThe Watermill following roles in Dangerous Corner, Hard Times, and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, as well as The Woman in Black and Warhorse in the West End, will play Cosmo Lang. Stephen Rahman-Hughes (Aladdin and Bombay Dreams – West End, Mrs Warren’s Profession – Theatre Royal Bath, Rock of Ages – UK tour) will play David and Stanley Baldwin. Jim Kitson (The Grinning Man – Trafalgar Studios, The Drowned Man – Punchdrunk / NT, Cold Buffet – Live Theatre, and Wind in the Willows and Treasure Island – Derby Theatre) is in the roles of King George V and Winston Churchill.
Imagine yourself as a child terrified of your own parents, because every time you speak you disappoint them. Teased. Unable to share a joke with friends. Trapped in a body that refuses to obey your commands.
Imagine being faced with the biggest moment of your life, and you cannot find your voice. The weight of the nation sits on your shoulders as you assume a role bound by duty and your family is in crisis. Your only hope lies in someone from the opposite side of the world, in geography, stature and convention.
Director Emma Butler said, “I’m thrilled to be working on David Seidler’s brilliant play, The King’s Speech. Bringing these fantastic characters to life with such a superb cast and building this beautiful central relationship with Peter and Arthur will be a joy. Set against a backdrop of a world in political turmoil, the rise of fascism and a crumbling of tradition, The King’s Speech feels searingly relevant in 2024. Deconstructing barriers across societies and continents, this play shows that, underneath the surface, we are all the same at heart, and that friendships can bloom regardless of where we come from.”
The King’s Speech will feature set and costume design by Bretta Gerecke, sound design and composition by Robin Colyer, lighting design by Ryan Day, production management from Tom Nickson, Company Stage Manager Cat Pewsey, Deputy Stage Manager Eleanor Walton, Assistant Stage Manager Leila Stephenson, audio description from Jo Myers and captioning by Min Gilby.
To book tickets visit: https://www.watermill.org.uk/the-kings-speech