Downton Abbey star Charles Edwards joins My Fair Lady cast, 2017

It was confirmed this morning that acclaimed British film and television actor Charles Edwards will appear in the 2017 Melbourne season of My Fair Lady, opposite Australia’s Anna O’Byrne.

Photographs by Wolf Marloh
Charles Edwards. Image by Wolf Marloh
Charles Edwards, who is known for his portrayal of Michael Gregson – Lady Edith Crawley’s love interest – in Downton Abbey has been announced to take over the role of Henry Higgins from fellow Brit Alex Jennings.

Most recently Edwards appeared in the feature film Diana and has played leading roles on Broadway and the West End and his theatre credits include The 39 Steps, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the lead role of Bertie in the original stage play of The Kings Speech.

The cast for the Brisbane run of My Fair Lady, which precedes the Melbourne season, has not been announced.

Producers Lyndon Terracini (Opera Australia) and John Frost have also confirmed that the current principal cast, currently playing to capacity houses at the Sydney Opera House, will remain with the production when the show opens on May 16 at The Regent Theatre (previews from May 12). Young star Anna O’Byrne will play Eliza Doolittle, Reg Livermore will play the role of Alfred P. Doolittle, Robyn Nevin will play Mrs. Higgins and Mark Vincent will play Freddy Eynsford-Hill. The role of Colonel Hugh Pickering will be played by Tony Llewellyn-Jones and Deidre Rubenstein will play Mrs. Pearce.

The Melbourne season of Lerner & Loewe’s My Fair Lady will be directed by Julie Andrews. Tickets go on sale on Monday 10 October.

Visit myfairladymusical.com.au for more details and to book tickets

Erin James

Erin James is AussieTheatre.com's former Editor in Chief and a performer on both stage and screen. Credits include My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The King and I (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies and Cats (Really Useful Group), Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents), A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Channel 7) and the feature film The Little Death (written and directed by Josh Lawson).

Erin James

4 thoughts on “Downton Abbey star Charles Edwards joins My Fair Lady cast, 2017

  • What a shame for musical theatre in this country that we have to return to the well worn age old Australian producers habit of importing the B grade star from the UK because we’ve failed to create a suitable Australian A lister who could do the role

    Reply
  • Come on Baz… the show is set in London… If the show was set in Australia, put one in! Duh! So how about writing some decent Australian play that works 60 years later???

    Reply
  • I went with a group to see My Fair Lady yesterday at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. We thoroughly enjoyed it. No bad comments. The actors were exceptional, including the stage sets and costumes.

    I have been to many live theatre shows over the years but I must say this was brilliant.

    Reply
  • My fair lady at the Capitol is brilliant actors sets and everything wonderful

    Reply

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