THE epic tale of a king losing his mind, The Madness of George III, opens at Birmingham Repertory Theatre next Wednesday.

Written by Alan Bennett, the play is the second produced in collaboration with West Yorkshire Playhouse, following on from A View From The Bridge by Arthur Miller.

The original National Theatre production won great acclaim in 1991, becoming an Oscar-winning film in 1994.

Described as "vast, courageous and warmly funny" the play, set in 1788, concerns the race against time to get the king fit for the opening of parliament.

The play stars Michael Pennington as George III. Co-founder of the English Shakespeare Company, Michael has recently appeared as Doctor Dorn in Peter Stein's production of The Seagull at the Edinburgh International Festival and in the lead role of John Gabriel Borkman for the English Touring Theatre.

Playing the part of Queen Charlotte is Alison Fiske whose work for the Royal Shakespeare Theatre has included The Merry Wives of Windsor, Coriolanus and Twelfth Night.

The role of the scheming Prince of Wales with an 'all-consuming desire to succeed the throne' is taken by Stewart Wright, soon to appear in BBC's Wild West opposite Dawn French.

Other cast members include Rufus Wright, Paul Raffield, Julia St John, David Killick and Ken Drury.

The Madness of George III runs until November 15 and includes Thursday and Saturday matinees.

Tickets, priced £9 - £19.75, are available from 0121 236 4455 or www.birmingham-rep.co.uk