The History Boys

8 Oct 2024 - 12 Oct 2024 View Venues, Dates & Times

New production of Alan Bennett classic out on tour.

“I think I’d always wanted to write something about a charismatic schoolmaster, and that went back quite a long way,” explains Alan Bennett in talking about his award-winning play, The History Boys. 

The story unfolds in a boys' school in northern England in the 1980s. A young teacher named Irwin has been brought in to coach the pupils for the Oxbridge exam - but fellow teacher Hector believes instead in learning for its own sake.

“Realistically the person that parents would want teaching their child would be Irwin, as Irwin would get you into university,” says Alan. ”However, sentimentally their hearts would be with Hector, because he’s the type of teacher everyone wants. Everybody always wishes they’d learned more poetry at school and had someone who would inspire them like that. And it’s the fact that, in a way, I couldn’t resolve this conflict in my head which made me write [The History Boys}.”

This new production is touring in celebration of the play’s 20th anniversary. 

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