In 2015 the multi award-winning comic masterpiece The History Boys from one of the UK’s most celebrated playwrights and authors Alan Bennett, whose astonishing career spans five decades, will return to Edinburgh as part of a major new UK tour.
Winner of over 30 major awards including the Olivier and Tony Awards for Best New Play, The History Boys premiered at the National Theatre in 2004 directed by Nicholas Hytner, and helped launch the careers of many of its original cast members including James Corden and Dominic Cooper. It went on to open on Broadway in 2006, with a film adaptation featuring the original stage cast released later that year. It has had two successful West End runs, playing at the Wyndham’s Theatre in 2007 and 2008, and has won countless awards including the Oliver Award for Best New Play, Tony Award for Best Play, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play and Evening Standard Award for Best Play.
It tells the story of a group of bright, funny and unruly sixth-formers in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university. Their maverick English teacher is at odds with the young and shrewd supply teacher, whilst their headmaster is obsessed with results and league tables. Staffroom rivalry and the anarchy of adolescence overflow, provoking insistent questions about history and how you teach it. Their A Levels may be over, but their true education is only just beginning. Widely hailed as one of the greatest theatrical events of the last decade, The History Boys is a hilariously funny and exceptionally moving play about the true purpose of education.
This brand new production from Sell a Door Theatre, whose recent productions include Avenue Q (2014 UK Tour), Spring Awakening (2011 UK Tour) and Seussical (West End) will be directed by Kate Saxon, whose credits include God of Carnage (Royal & Derngate), Persuasion (Salisbury Playhouse), The Real Thing (English Touring Theatre) and French Lieutenant’s Woman (UK Tour). Casting for this production is to be announced.
The History Boys was voted the nations favourite play in a recent national survey conducted by English Touring Theatre and they are delighted to be able to support the winning play by giving away 100 pairs of free tickets to throughout the 2015 tour. As part of their commitment to growing audiences and increasing access to regional theatre, applications are open to anyone who has never attending their local theatre before. For more information on how to apply, visit www.ett.org.uk
Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 March 2015
King’s Theatre Edinburgh
£14-£29.50
Box Office: 0131 529 6000
Groups (8+): 0131 529 6005