Alan Bennet's The History Boys

The Multi award-winning play is at Swindon's Wyvern Theatre from the 1st - 6th of June 2015.

Voted the nation’s favourite play, Alan Bennett’s The History Boys is returning in 2015, visiting Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre from Monday 1 to Saturday 6 June 2015 as part of a major new UK tour for 2015. On sale now.

Winner of more than 30 major awards including the Olivier and Tony Awards for Best New Play, The History Boys is about a group of bright, funny and unruly sixth-formers in pursuit of sex, sport and a university place. Their maverick English teacher is juxtaposed to the young and shrewd supply teacher, whilst the headmaster is fixated with results and league tables. Staffroom rivalry and the anarchy of adolescence overflow, provoking insistent questions about history and how it's taught. Their A Levels may be over, but their true education is only just beginning. Widely hailed as one of the last decade's greatest theatrical events, The History Boys is a hilariously funny and exceptionally moving play about education's true purpose. 

Alan Bennett's comic masterpiece was recent'y voted the nations favourite play in a national poll conducted by English Touring Theatre to celebrate their 21^st birthday. English Touring Theatre are delighted to be able to support the winning play by giving away 100 pairs of free tickets to The History Boys throughout the 2015 tour. Adhering to their commitment to growing audiences and increasing access to regional theatre, applications are open to anyone who's never been to their local theatre before. More information on how to apply can be found at www.ett.org.uk.

The History Boys premiered at the National Theatre in 2004 directed by Nicholas Hytner, and helped the careers of many of its original cast members such as James Corden and Dominic Cooper, take off. It went on to open on Broadway in 2006, with a film adaptation featuring the original stage cast released later that year. The History Boys also had two successful West End runs, playing at the Wyndham’s Theatre in 2007 and 2008, and has won numerous 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.

Alan Bennett is one of the UK’s most celebrated playwrights and authors, and in a career that spans five decades has created many acclaimed works for theatre, television and film. His work for the stage includes People, Hymn and Cocktail Sticks, The Habit of Art, Talking Heads, The Madness of George III and Kafka’s Dick. Prior to his work as a playwright, Bennett enjoyed enormous success as a co-writer and performer of Beyond the Fringe, a comedy stage revue which played in the West End and on Broadway in the 1960s. At the 2005 Olivier Awards Bennett was awarded the Society Special Award for his contribution to theatre.

This brand new production for 2015 is presented by Sell a Door Theatre, whose recent productions include Avenue Q (2014 UK Tour), Spring Awakening (2011 UK Tour) and Seussical (West End).

The History Boys 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). Kate was also Associate Director at Shared Experience from 2000-2012.

Artistic Director of Sell a Door Theatre, David Hutchinson, said today: “We are delighted to be launching our 2015 season with the UK revival tour of the nation’s favourite play by one of Britain’s most cherished playwrights. Sell a Door prides itself on engaging young adults in live theatre, and our partnership with English Touring Theatre subsidising free tickets will allow hundreds of first time patrons to see this critically acclaimed play.”

Casting will be announced in due course.

The History Boys will run at the Wyvern Theatre from Monday 1 to Saturday 6 June 2015. For book tickets, or for more information, visit swindontheatres.co.uk or call the Ticket Office on 01793 524 48101793 524 481.