The History Boys, coming to Theatre Royal Plymouth in September

1st August 2024

Alan Bennett’s modern classic The History Boys will make a return to stage in the 20th anniversary production going a national tour, visiting Theatre Royal Plymouth from 17 – 21 September 2024.

A-Level results day. Cutler’s Grammar School. 1980s Sheffield.

Eight unruly teenagers burst into adulthood with the best grades their school has ever seen, but their sights are set on something higher: to study at the most famous academic institutions in the world - Oxford and Cambridge. But their teachers can’t agree how best to tutor them. There’s Hector, the maverick English teacher who believes in culture for its own sake; Irwin - the shrewd supply teacher full of soundbites; Felix - the headmaster obsessed with league tables and Mrs Lintott - the History teacher who thinks her colleagues are all fools.

The History Boys follows this bright bunch of boys in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university, lifting the lid on staffroom rivalries and the anarchy of adolescence.

This timely revival, directed by Seán Linnen (Quiz, Chichester Festival Theatre, Queers, Old Vic), and designed by Grace Smart (The Winter’s Tale, The Globe, Top Girls, Liverpool Everyman). Ryan Day is Lighting Designer, Russell Ditchfield Composer & Sound Designer and Chi-San Howard is the Movement Director.

Alan Bennett says of this upcoming production:

‘How very pleased I am that The History Boys are still here twenty years on finding a new audience.  “Pass it on” is Hector’s message – I hope the playgoers feel the same!’

The History Boys is the winner of over 30 major international awards. The original production at the National Theatre which opened in 2004 before international tour and film adaptation, starred the late Richard Griffiths and launched the careers of James Corden, Dominic Cooper, Russell Tovey, and Jamie Parker among others.

Alan Bennett has been a household name in British theatre for more than fifty years. His numerous plays include Habeas Corpus, Single Spies, The Madness of George III, Talking Heads and The Lady in the Van.

The cast is Simon Rouse (Hector), Milo Twomey (Headmaster), Gillian Bevan (Mrs Lintott), Bill Milner (Irwin), Archie Christoph-Allen (Dakin), Lewis Cornay (Posner), Teddy Hinde (Timms), Yazden Oafouri (Scripps), Ned Costello (Rudge), Mahesh Parmar (Akthar), Tashinga Bepete (Crowther),Curtis Kemlo (Lockwood) and Zrey Sholapurkar (Ensemble).