THEATRE REVIEW: The King's Speech ★★★★

The Kings Speech

Birmingham REP Theatre

5th March 2015

Based on the 2010 British film starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush, Raymond Coulthard and Jason Donovan pick up the reigns in this historical drama based on real life events. After his brother abdicates the throne, King George relies on Lionel Logue to help him through his first wartime radio broadcast on the declaration of war against Germany in 1939.

What I thought really worked about this production was the relationship between the characters and the chemistry on-stage provided by both Coulthard and Donovan. As the relationship starts sour, but with them soon turning friends, the way the action flows nicely really draws you into the action. There is never one scene that isn't important, and the transitions between those scenes are slick and tight. All the characters in the show are really well developed and each feel like they have a secure back-story to them, especially with it being a true story.

I don’t usually comment about the lighting in a show, and it wasn't that there was any spectacular sequences in this show, but something about the way the whole production was lit on stage made it all feel very natural and transported you back in time for two hours. I should also mention how authentic I thought the costumes and set was, as being right in the front row, I really could take in everything that was happening with every detail, and I was thoroughly impressed right throughout the whole production.

Overall, The King’s Speech was an utter delight to witness on stage, with a strong cast and ensemble, believable characters, and a story that really did justice to the events of those pre World War II.