It will begin performances at Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Feb. 1, 2012, prior to an official opening Feb. 10, then continue on tour to the Theatre Royals at Nottingham, Bath and Brighton, then play London's Richmond Theatre before concluding at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle on March 17.

The production, which is directed by Adrian Noble and designed by Anthony Ward, will star Charles Edwards as George VI (played on film by Colin Firth) and Jonathan Hyde as Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush in the film). It is produced by Playful Productions and Michael Alden Productions.

Edwards was most recently seen onstage as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare's Globe, opposite Eve Best's Beatrice, and he was also in Peter Hall's production of Twelfth Night at the National earlier this year. Other credits include starring in The 39 Steps in the West End and on Broadway. Hyde, who is Australian-born, was last seen onstage in The Deep Blue Sea at Chichester Festival Theatre. Other recent credits include playing Captain Hook in a touring tent production of Peter Pan seen in Kensington Gardens and subsequently in San Francisco.

David Seidler's story about how King George VI conquered his debilitating stammer with the help of maverick speech therapist Lionel Logue was one of 2010's most successful films, winning four Academy Awards and seven BAFTAs. Seidler is now returning to the play he wrote from which he developed his screenplay.  

Full casting for this production will be announced later.