Imagine facing the most pivotal moment of your life, and you simply can’t speak.
That gripping reality will be brought to life in The King’s Speech, based on the blockbuster, Academy Award-winning film of the same name, and now making its New Zealand stage premiere at The Court Theatre starting next month.
In this inspiring, award-winning drama by David Seidler, audiences will witness the extraordinary journey of King George VI as he struggles to harness his voice against all odds.
At the heart of the production is the remarkable Jason Hodzelmans, who will take on the role of Bertie, Duke of York—and the future King.
Bertie never expected to wear the crown. As the second son of King George V, his elder brother David (later Edward VIII) was destined for the throne. But when David abdicated in 1936 to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson, Bertie was thrust into the role of monarch. A lifelong stammer, exacerbated by a strict upbringing and the pressures of public expectation, suddenly became not just a personal struggle but a national crisis. With Britain on the brink of war, the country desperately needed a king who could lead with strength and clarity of voice.
Bertie’s trajectory—from a terrified, stuttering child to a sovereign who found his voice in his nation’s darkest hour—will hinge on raw emotional truth. Hodzelmans will bring extraordinary depth to this journey, capturing the façade of calm while a storm rages within. Theatre fans who have admired his compelling work in productions such as Titus and Jacques Brel Is Alive and Living in Paris can look forward to seeing him channel that same magnetic presence into one of theatre’s most emotionally resonant figures.
Premiere NZ Season
THE COURT THEATRE, CHRISTCHURCH
20 September – 25 October