THE regional premiere of West End smash hit King Charles III is being held in Birmingham next month Following critically-acclaimed, sell-out runs at the Almeida Theatre and in the West End King Charles III is coming to the Birmingham Rep on September 4.

Legendary screen and stage actor Robert Powell is taking the roll of the new King with big ideas after waiting most of his life for his beloved mother to die.

Mike Bartlett's play explores the people underneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of our democracy, and the conscience of Britain's most famous family. Having been awarded the Olivier Award, Critics Choice and South Bank Sky Arts Award for Best New Play, King Charles III will also open on Broadway this October at the Music Box Theatre.

Robert Powell is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Jesus in Jesus of Nazareth (which won him a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor) and as series regular Mark Williams in Holby City.

His theatre credits include Singin' in the Rain (Palace Theatre), Ubu Roi and Pirates (both Royal Court), Travesties (RSC), Tovarich (Chichester Festival Theatre), and more recently a touring production of Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell.

He also starred opposite Jasper Carrott in five series of The Detectives, and has appeared in The Bible, Doomwatch, Shelley, Jude The Obscure, Looking For Clancy, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Pygmalion, Shaka Zulu, Hannay, The Golden Years, Frankenstein and The First Circle.

Mike Bartlett previously collaborated with Rupert Goold on Earthquakes in London and Decade. His other plays include An Intervention, Artefacts (for which he won the Old Vic New Voices Award), Cock (which was awarded an Olivier Award in 2010 for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre at the Royal Court), Love, Love, Love (which won Best New Play at the 2011 Theatre Awards UK), Bull, Chariots of Fire, Contractions, My Child, Medea, 13 and Game.

Joining Robert Powell will be Penelope Beaumont as Camilla, Ben Righton as William, Richard Glaves as Harry, and Jennifer Bryden as Kate.

The cast also includes Lucy Phelps, Giles Taylor, Parth Thakerar, Tim Treloar, Beatrice Walker and Paul Westwood.

King Charles III is at the Birmingham Rep from September 4 until September 19 and for more information phone 0121 236 4455 or visit birmingham-rep.co.uk.