Playwright Alan Bennett’s play The History Boys was first performed on stage twenty years ago at the National Theatre.

It’s  A level results day in Sheffield and eight boys have just received the best results their school has ever known. In six months each one has the opportunity to apply for either Oxford or Cambridge University if they work hard and study to pass the test.

Simon Rouse plays the infamous teacher Hector. The lecherous teacher whose offers to give one of the boys a lift home after school so he can “molest them” the boys appear to normalise his behaviour and accept it as they like his lessons and learn a lot from him. However, when the information of this behaviour reaches the headmaster played by Milo Twomey he offers Hector the option of early retirement to prevent a scandal.

Mrs Linott (Gillian Bevan) and Irwin (Bill Milner) are the other two teachers who play a significant role in helping to prepare the boys for their University applications.

Rudge played by Ned Costello plays the role equally as well as Russell Tovey in the 2006 film. Shocking the teachers when he announces to them that he was offered his place at Oxford on the same day, which explains why he hasn’t received a letter like the other seven. His laid-back attitude breaks through the snobbery of who they expected to be accepted. Bennett has a way of raising the underdog in his writing that you never see it coming. Probably a reflection of Bennett’s feelings towards being accepted into Oxford.

Dakin (Archie Christoph-Allen) is sexy and desirable and incredibly vain with it. The alpha male of the eight boys who has no qualms is describing his sexual liaisons. Poster (Lewis Cornay) lusts openly after Dakin and questions why Hector never asks him to ride home with him. In typical Bennett style, there are many layers to this play and much is open to the audience’s interpretation.

Grace Smart set and costume designer has used the outside and inside of a school classroom as the setting for the entire play, the 1980s-style green pebble-dashed building brought back memories of some of the classrooms from my school days. The set is fully operational by the cast and changes frequently as the story develops.

The songs by Musical Director Eamon O’Dwyer fit into the story and brings another dimension to the storyline. One that works for a staged production of The History Boys.

There are no spoiler alerts for anyone familiar with The History Boys 2006 film or the original text by Alan Bennett. However, the stage version doesn’t show any of the interviews or the boys travelling outside Sheffield. The audience learns of their experiences afterwards and their results once they return.

Casting for The History Boys is faultless and each of the characters brings something different to the story. It’s a well-thought-out, funny and moving play directed by Seán Linnen.

For more about The History Boys and to book tickets please visit the link below.

Four Stars.

Photo credit Marc Brenner.

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-history-boys/richmond-theatre/