HAVING been born in its namesake, Jason Donovan should feel right at home when he visits Malvern at the end of the month.

The actor, singer, and former Neighbours star is playing the part of speech therapist Lionel Logue in the King's Speech, which comes to Malvern Theatres on April 27.

Jason, who has performed in many productions over the years — including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Sweeney Todd — says he is looking forward to taking on the role that was previously performed by Geoffrey Rush in the 2010 film version of the play.

"I saw the film a while ago, and it's not something I've gone back to," said Jason, who was born in Malvern, Melbourne.

"Although Rush was incredible in the film, I think most actors will tell you that they don't want to look to closely at how other people have performed the roles they are taking on. You want to make a character your own. Sure, you adopt tones of different actors and can take inspiration from them, but you want to do your own thing.

"All the preparation I need is really in the study of the text. The character really unfolds when that happens. I read a book on Lionel Logue but the script is really so well written that it told me pretty much all I needed to know about the character I'd be playing."

Jason is touring the country with the play, in which he stars alongside Raymond Coulthard, who plays King George VI.

Jason will perform the role before audiences up to eight times a week, but he says that although he doesn't get bored, he stills gets nervous.

"Acting is an artform, it's what we do. I heard Kevin Spacey speaking on the radio and he likened acting to tennis. He said there is a certain repetition involved in both — a tennis player is always trying to hit the ball in to the same space in the court, and an actor is performing the same lines, but it's what we do," he said.

"It can be tough doing eight shows a week and I really don't like doing matinees. But everyone involved with the play is one big team so we all help each other. My family and friends all support me.

"Saying that, no matter how many times I go on stage, I still get nervous. I do warm ups and vocal exercises to prepare but I get nervous every time. I'd be worried if I didn't get nervous — it means I still care about what I do."

For more information on dates and tickets to the Malvern shows, visit www.malvern-theatres.co.uk.