Two of Canada's finest actors are going to share a Toronto stage for the first time this fall.

The Star has learned that when the Canadian Stage Company's production of The Elephant Man opens this October, the leading roles will be played by Geraint Wyn Davies and Brent Carver.

They both were at Stratford in the late '80s, but never in the same show. Their one appearance together was in the Lincoln Centre production of King Lear, starring Christopher Plummer in 2004.

Now, under the direction of Robin Phillips, they will play the humanist Dr. Frederick Treves (Wyn Davies) and the tortured John Merrick in Bernard Pomerance's Tony Award-winning play.

Carver has been frequently seen on Toronto stages recently in shows like The Story of My Life, The Lord of the Rings and Vigil.

Wyn Davies' last local appearance was in the summer of 2002 when he alternated the role of Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady with Colm Feore at the Stratford Festival.

But a lot of his recent work has been onstage in Washington, D.C., or on the small screen, where his work in Slings and Arrows and 24 has kept him popular.

And of course, his cult vampire series, Forever Knight, has made him eternally popular with a certain segment of the population.

The combination of Wyn Davies and Carver, with the always fascinating Phillips at the directorial helm, should make for one of fall's most talked-about theatre events.

Previews begin Oct. 8, opening night is Oct. 11 and it runs until Nov. 3.