Alan Bennett’s multi award-winning play The History Boys is visiting Blackpool’s Grand Theatre from Tuesday 14–Saturday 18 April 2015 and, if you’ve never visited your local theatre before, you could have a free ticket to see the show.
The History Boys is 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 supply teacher and staffroom rivalry and the anarchy of adolescence overflow. This show provokes questions about history and how you teach it and whether the boys’ real education begins once their A Levels are over. The tension between teachers aiming for something more than a set of statistics to serve league tables at the end of their school lives and higher power’s edicts around what constitutes a ‘good’ education sadly resonates as strongly today as it did when the play was written ten years ago.
In a recent survey conducted by English Touring Theatre (ETT), The History Boys was voted the nation’s favourite play; to celebrate this fact and to ensure the widest range of audiences as possible are able to enjoy the production at their local theatres, ETT are giving away 100 pairs of free tickets throughout the 2015 tour. Applications are open to anyone who has never attended their local theatre before. For more information on how to apply, visit www.ett.org.uk.
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. The History Boys premiered at the National Theatre in 2004 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 late, great Richard Griffiths in the role of Hector. The History Boys 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.
This brand new production for 2015 is presented by Sell a Door Theatre, whose recent productions include Avenue Q, which visited The Grand in July this year. David Hutchinson, Artistic Director of Sell a Door Theatre said: “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.”
The History Boys by Alan Bennett plays at the Grand Theatre Tuesday 14 to Saturday 18 April 2015. Tickets start at just £13.50 (concessionary and group rates available) and can be bought in person from the box office, by phoning 01253 290190 or by visiting the website.
Show Comments (1)