The History Boys 2315955 223020100 2008-07-02T05:45:27Z Emerson7 191157 +infobox; copyediting, cleanup {{for|the film|The History Boys (film)}} {{Infobox Play | name = The History Boys | image = The History Boys.jpg | image_size = 150px | caption = | writer = [[Alan Bennett]] | characters = Headmaster<br>Hector<br>Irwin<br>Mrs Lintott<br>Akthar<br>Crowther<br>Dakin<br>Lockwood<br>Posner<br>Rudge<br>Scripps<br>Timms | setting = 1980s; Cutlers' Grammar School, Sheffield | premiere = [[18 May]] [[2004]] | place = [[Royal National Theatre|Lyttelton Theatre]]<br>[[London]], [[England]] | orig_lang = [[English language|English]] | subject = &nbsp; | genre = Drama | web = http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/The%20History%20Boys%202004+7785.twl | playbill = 10938 | ibdb_id = 400539 }} '''''The History Boys''''' is a [[Play (theatre)|play]] by English playwright [[Alan Bennett]]. The play premiered at [[Royal National Theatre|Lyttelton Theatre]], in London on [[18 May]] [[2004]]. Its Broadway debut was on [[23 April]] [[2006]] at the [[Broadhurst Theatre]] where there were 185 performances staged before closing on [[1 October]] [[2006]]. ==Characters== * Headmaster (Felix Armstrong) - Headmaster of Cutlers' Grammar School, Sheffield * (Douglas) Hector - English/General Studies Teacher * Irwin - Supply History Teacher * Mrs (Dorothy) Lintott - History Teacher * (Adil) Akthar - Pupil; Muslim, Asian-ethinic-origin * (Christopher) Crowther - Pupil; African-ethinic-origin * (Stuart) Dakin - Pupil; Object of Posner's affection * (James) Lockwood - Pupil; Rocker * (David) Posner - Pupil; Gay, Jewish * (Peter) Rudge - Pupil; Athlete * (Donald) Scripps - Pupil; plays piano in original cast, Christian * (Anthony) Timms - Pupil; Works as a Bouncer * Fiona - Headmaster's Secretary; Dakin's "Western Front" * Other non speaking boys (sometimes to play piano) * Make-Up Woman, Director - Production Team on Irwin's History Program * three or four unidentified MP's - Spoken to by Irwin in opening scene ==Plot synopsis== The action of the play takes place in Cutlers' [[Grammar School]], [[Sheffield]], a fictional boys' [[grammar school]] in the north of [[England]]. Set in the early 1980s, the piece follows a group of [[history]] pupils preparing for the [[Oxbridge]] entrance examinations under the guidance of three teachers (Hector, Irwin and Lintott) with contrasting styles. Irwin teaches the essay style of brisk generalities flavoured with sufficient facts and quotations to engage the examiner's interest. He teaches the boys to find a (sometimes controversial) angle on a point in History and find evidence to support it, enabling the student to prove a less than truthful perspective of History. He believes the truth is irrelevant when it comes to finding a stance that will make his pupils stand out in the examination board. This method was one of 'false pretences', that Bennett felt he had had to teach himself in order to succeed in examinations, one academic pursuit with which he constantly had trouble. Hector, however, wishes to teach knowledge, especially English Literature, for its own intrinsic value, hoping his students will benefit greatly from his influence. He wants the boys to become cultured, rounded human beings and believes that such contrived methods are practically indecent. Exams are the enemy of all that he stands for. ==Themes== The play blends both comedy and tragedy, with multiple layers and themes, including growing up, the wider purpose of [[education]] in adult life, teaching methods, [[homosexuality]]/[[pederasty]], and the [[Education in England|English education system]]. {{Fact|date=June 2008}} Indeed the role of the pupil Posner with his hopeless attraction to classmate Dakin, fondness of Hector's teaching methods and late development into adulthood represents deep autobiographical details of Bennett's life. The play also takes much influence from director [[Nicholas Hytner]]'s time at [[Manchester Grammar School]] and indeed that institution is referenced in the play. ==Productions== ;Royal National Theatre: The play opened at the [[Royal National Theatre|Lyttelton Theatre]] (part of the National Theatre) in [[London]] on [[18 May]] [[2004]] where it played to sell-out audiences and its limited run was frequently extended. On [[24 November]] [[2005]], the same production was revived once again at the [[Royal National Theatre|Lyttelton Theatre]] where it played another successful run, the original cast reuniting in the final week in February 2006. ;International Tour: Following closing in London, the National Theatre production toured to [[Hong Kong]] in February 2006 and featured in the 2006 New Zealand International Arts Festival held in [[Wellington]] (February 2006) before playing at the Sydney Theatre in [[Sydney]], [[Australia]] from [[March 4]] to [[April 8]] [[2006]]. At each venue, the play was presented to sell-out audiences with the original London cast, including [[Richard Griffiths]] however [[Frances de la Tour]] was replaced by Maggie Stead until the Broadway season. ;Broadway: The American premiere of the play took place on [[April 23]] [[2006]] when the same National production opened on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] at the [[Broadhurst Theatre]]. Originally scheduled to run through [[September 2]] [[2006]], the run was extended through to [[October 8]] [[2006]] following huge public demand in the aftermath of sweeping the Tony, New York Critics Circle and other American theatrical awards. ;West End: Following its Broadway triumph and second UK tour, the play opened at London's [[Wyndham's Theatre]] on [[2 January]] [[2007]], following previews from [[20 December]] [[2006]]. The production closed on [[14 April]] [[2007]]. A further West End run of the play opened once again at the Wyndham's Theatre on [[20 December]] [[2007]] running through [[26 April]] [[2008]]. ;UK National Tours: The first UK tour of the production opened in 2005, continuing to play nine regional venues. A second UK tour began on the [[31 August]] [[2006]] at the [[Birmingham Rep]], touring to eight further venues. The latest (third) UK tour launched on [[6 September]] [[2007]] at the [[Theatre Royal, Plymouth]], before continuing to [[Truro]], [[Cheltenham]], [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], [[Dublin]], [[Blackpool]], [[Leeds]], [[Cambridge]] and [[Eastbourne]] before culminating in [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] on [[10 November]] [[2007]]. ;Ireland: The Irish premiere of the play took place on Tuesday [[9 October]] [[2007]] at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, running to Saturday [[13 October]] [[2007]]. ;Australia: Following the original Australian production at the Sydney Theatre in [[Sydney]] from [[March 4]] to [[April 8]] [[2006]], a production of the play ran at the [[Melbourne Theatre Company]] from [[Apr 9]] – [[May 12]] 2007. ;Israel: The Israeli production, directed by Micha Levinson, premiered in March 2007 at the Beit Lessin Theater in [[Tel-Aviv]], in [[Hebrew]] with local actors, starring Oded Kotler and Sandra Sade. ;New Zealand: A production directed by Elric Hooper is scheduled to play at The [[Court Theatre (NZ)]] in [[Christchurch]], [[New Zealand]] from May - June 2008. ==Film adaptation== {{main|The History Boys (film)}} In October 2006 a film adaptation of the play was released in the United States, and later in November 2006 in the United Kingdom. The film was directed by Hytner and featured the original stage cast. ==Awards and nominations== <!--non-performance awards only --> ;Awards * 2004 Evening Standard Award for Best Play * 2005 Olivier Award for Best New Play * 2006 Drama Desk Award for Best New Play * 2006 New York Drama Critics' Circle Best Play * 2006 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Broadway Play * 2006 Tony Award for Best Play ==References== * {{cite news | author=Michael Billington | title=Review: The History Boys | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/reviews/story/0,11712,1220108,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=19 May 2004 | accessdate=2008-06-29}} * {{cite news | author=Alan Bennett; Nicholas Hytner | title= The truth behind the History Boys | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2004/06/21/btbennett21.xml&sSheet=/arts/2004/06/22/ixartright.html | work=The Telegraph | date= 21 June 2004 | accessdate=2008-06-29}} ==Further reading== * {{cite book | last=Bennett | first=Alan | title=The History Boys | location=London | publisher=Faber and Faber | pages=96 pp | year=2004 | isbn=0571224644}} ==External links== * [http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=7785 The National Theatre: ''The History Boys''] * {{ibdb title|400540}} * {{imdb title|0464049}} {{TonyAwardBestPlay 2001-2025}} {{DEFAULTSORT:History Boys, The}} [[Category:2004 plays]] [[Category:Alan Bennett plays]] [[Category:Broadway plays]] [[Category:Drama Desk Award winning plays]] [[Category:Evening Standard Award for Best Play]] [[Category:LGBT-related plays]] [[Category:Modern pederasty]] [[Category:New York Drama Critics' Circle Award winners]] [[Category:Olivier Award winning plays]] [[Category:Tony Award winning plays]] [[Category:West End plays]]