The History Boys

Alan Bennett's The History Boys is set in a boys' grammar school in Sheffield in the 1980s, where eight bright sixth-formers are being coached for the Oxford and Cambridge entrance exams. Their ambitious headmaster hires Irwin, a young supply teacher who teaches history as a contest of clever arguments, while Hector, their eccentric English teacher, believes in knowledge for its own sake. Caught between the two, the boys deal with friendship, sex and school politics in a comedy about the purpose of education.

Written by Alan Bennett (Talking Heads, The Lady in the Van) and directed by Nicholas Hytner (One Man, Two Guvnors, Giant), the National Theatre production won three Olivier Awards and six Tony Awards and returns to the West End for the first time in 20 years, with Bob Crowley again designing the set. Casting is yet to be announced. The original company included Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour, James Corden and Dominic Cooper. A funny and moving play about teachers, pupils and history, it is one to catch at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.