Lessons for Speakers from The King's Speech

Recently, I re-watched 'The King’s Speech' (2010) starring Colin Friels, Helen Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush, written by David Seidler and directed by Tom Hooper. The key scene where the king delivers his speech at the start of World War II demonstrates several key points for effective delivery.

1.??????The coach (Rush as Lionel Logue) has the King (Colin Friels as George VI) deliver the speech in maximum comfort (with his coat off and with plenty of fresh air in a room fitted with lots of curtains – for the acoustics).

2.??????The King tries (unsuccessfully) to warm-up with tongue twisters but is too nervous. Logue tells the king to forget the nationwide audience and to “Say it to me as a friend.”

3.??????He uses his hand to measure the correct distance between mouth and microphone and is reminded by the Queen (Helen Bonham Carter) to make sure the mic’s off while he’s practising.

4.??????His script is marked up with passages where he should slow down and pause.

5.??????He changes the word ‘kingdom’ (which is likely to make him stutter) to ‘people’.

6.??????He has elongated pauses which we know are caused by his struggling with pronouncing certain sounds, but the radio audience hears this delivery as calm, reassuring and authoritative.

7.??????After he has finished he makes his way to his desk for the official photograph.?So, while the British public imagined him delivering it seated at the desk, we know he actually delivered it standing…because it is much easier to sound confident and powerful when standing.

So, seven lessons we can take away from this short clip:

1.??????Get comfortable and (if you’re recording) choose a space with good acoustics.

2.??????Warm up with tongue twisters and imagine yourself delivering it to your best friend.

3.??????If using a microphone, keep it the right distance from your mouth.

4.??????Mark-up your script to remind yourself about change of pace, emphasis and pause.

5.??????Use words that feel comfortable for you.?Say every phrase aloud beforehand to check.

6.??????Slower delivery and longer pauses will generally make you sound more confident.

7.??????You’ll always sound better standing up than sitting.