The History Boys
November 14, 2007
The History Boys , Theatre Royal Newcastle and tour
The History Boys, has been a sell out success for the National Theatre , toured successfully, appeared in the West End, been made in to a film and is now touring again and judging by last nights audience it is still playing to full houses. Written by Alan Bennet (Talking Heads, Madness of King George III, The Old Country) the play is funny, tragic and thought provoking and must be seen as one of Bennets’ best works. But this is not only due to the superb writing alone. It is because The History Boys appeals to a wide audience from students to teachers and general public alike, as everyone has been touched by the education system, everyone can connect with aspects of this play.
Set in a northern school, the story revolves around an unruly class of sixth form boys, played by excellent young actors each easily fitting into their characters, who are wrestling with some aspect of their life. Desmond Barrit, played the same role in the previous tour and has grown in to the part of English teacher Hector, who has unconventional teaching methods. These include, teaching the boys Gracie Fields and George Formby songs and becoming over familiar with the pupils, which proves to be his downfall.
The Headmaster (David Mallinson) is obsessed with results and university places to such an extent he employs a young supply teacher, Irwin (Tim Delap) to both improve the boys chances and the schools results. The only female member of the cast is teacher Mrs Linott, played by Elizabeth Bell.
Hector and Irwin clash with their teaching styles but when the Headmasters wife by chance witnesses an indiscretion, Hectors’ fate is sealed. Only Bennett could weave in to his story that the Headmasters wife was actually working an extra shift at an Age Concerned Charity shop when she happened to look out of the window and see Hector. But as Hector prepares to leave the school and the university results come in, a chance turn of fate changes lives forever.
Told partially in flash back and in black and white short videos, we witness the staffroom rivalry and sixth formers in pursuit of sexual experiences while Bennett always ensures that the story is either funny or moving but always highly watchable.
The set (by Designer Bob Crowley) is a very cleaver series of sliding walls that silently move us from classroom to staffroom, while we watch short black and white videos of the staff and pupils which do move the story along. Unfortunately the cables hanging a series of florescent lights are in front of the main screen and prove to be a distraction.
Director Paul Miller has recreated Nicolas Hynter original direction and ensured that this present production of The History Boys is to the same standard as the original production and in fact seems better than the original tour. This is a tightly knit ensemble piece of theatre that shows off Bennett at his best
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