Fiona Proctor- Headmaster's secretary; object of Dakin's affection
Other male pupils (can play piano if the actor cast as Scripps cannot)
Make-Up Woman, Production team on Irwin's television show
three or four unidentified MP's - Spoken to by Irwin in opening scene
There is a brief role of a Director on Irwin's televison programme who does speak.
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 comedy with tragedy and has many layers and themes. Whilst the story is ostensibly about education and, in particular, the teaching of talented pupils on the cusp of adulthood it is also a subtle study of the human and personal relationships between teacher and pupil, pupil and pupil and teacher and teacher. Hector, the confident but eccentric, eclectic and iconoclastic history teacher is contrasted with Irwin, a generation younger than he, who is clever, confused and insecure. The boys have warmed to Hector's maverick style and methods which includes role playing and a very broad cultural range - from Gracie Fields to Housman. They tolerate Hector's fondness for fondling their genitalia when on his motor bike with equanimity clearly seeing it as a harmless foible rather than a pederastic threat.
The boys themselves are sharply contrasted and skilfully characterised. Dakin, is handsome and self-confident attracting not only the lovestruck and guilt-ridden Posner but also the Headmaster's secretary the "fair Fiona" and eventually Irwin as well. Rudge is the sporting hearty who despite his lack of overt academic competence has sufficient other qualities and connections to get him into Oxford. The play is about the "anarchy of adolescence" and whilst the fact of Hector's homosexuality runs through the story and is ultimately Hector's downfall "The History Boys" is not primarily about sex. The sexual confidence and promiscuity of Dakin and the sexual confusions of Hector, Irwin and Posner are neatly contrasted however and this theme may well be autobiographical.
The idea that culture is not sharply divided into highbrow and lowbrow is one of Hector's beliefs and he is as comfortable in the genre of Hollywood as he is in the classics. This seems to be a plea for tolerance and understanding and for the need to trawl widely in order to grow and to learn - especially early in life. The belief that in education anything goes so long as it helps the pupil's development contrasts sharply with the headmaster's wish to stick to the curriculum and to get results above all. For Hector entry to Oxbridge will (or should) come from a rounded education as much as from curriculum adherence. For Irwin the need is to play the game so that in the Oxbridge entrance exams and interviews taking the conventional line is to be avoided in favour of articulating a contrary position in order to be noticed.
The play is set in the 1980s - a time of social and political change and in a sense The History Boys is a refection of that change. The likes of Hector would never be accepted again and results driven headmasters became the norm. Bennett suggests that this is a regrettable consequence of the Thatcherite and post-Thatcherite focus in education on curriculum, standards and political-correctness.
Productions
Royal National Theatre
The play opened at the Lyttelton Theatre (part of the National Theatre) in London on 18 May2004 where it played to sell-out audiences and its limited run was frequently extended. On 24 November2005, the same production was revived once again at the 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 82006. 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 232006 when the same National production opened on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre. Originally scheduled to run through September 22006, the run was extended through to October 82006 following huge public demand in the aftermath of sweeping the Tony, New York Critics Circle and other American theatrical awards.
Apprentice Players will present the regional premiere of the play in August 2008 under the direction of Jacob Sexton, at the University of Kentucky Briggs Theater.
San Francisco, CA, USA
The History Boys is being produced by the New Conservatory Theatre Center in 2008 with a run scheduled for September 19 - October 26. Directed by the theatre's Artistic Director, Ed Decker, it will star James Breedlove, Juan Carlos De La Rosa, Ryan Foster, Nic Knerr, Chistopher Morrell, Zac Schuman and Jonathan Shue as the boys. Info at http://www.nctcsf.org
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 Stage Collective Will be producing the play in October 2008.
Honolulu, Hawaii
the play will be presented by The Actors' Group(TAG)in August 2008. Directed by Brad Powell, the production is scheduled to play at the Mendonca Building, 1116 Smith St. (www.taghawaii.net;(808) 722-6941)
San Diego, California
A production presented by Cygnet Theatre directed by Sean Murray is scheduled to play at The Old Town Theatre February 28th through March 29th, 2009 with previews February 19th thru the 27th. http://www.cygnettheatre.com/ Box Office:(619) 337-1525
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The Arts Club Theatre will be staging the play at their Granville Island Stage from September 25 to October 25, 2008. http://www.artsclub.com/ Box Office: (604) 687-1644
Mankato, Minnesota
Minnesota State University, Mankato's Department of Theatre and Dance will be staging a production directed by Dr. Paul J. Hustoles, chair of the department. It will run Jan.28-Feb.8 2009 Wed-Sun. http://www.mnsu.edu/theatre/
Film adaptation
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
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
Encyclopedia
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