The History Boys - Productions

Productions

Royal National Theatre

The play opened at the Lyttelton Theatre (part of the National Theatre) in London on 18 May 2004, directed by Nicholas Hytner. It played to sell-out audiences and its limited run was frequently extended. Richard Griffiths, James Corden, Dominic Cooper, Russell Tovey and Andrew Knott were among the original cast. On 24 November 2005, the same production was revived once again at the Lyttelton Theatre where it played another successful run. Future Doctor Who actor Matt Smith took on the role of Lockwood in the November revision of the cast. The original cast reunited 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 4 March to 8 April 2006. At each venue, the play was presented to sell-out audiences with the original London cast, including Richard Griffiths; however, Frances de la Tour and Clive Merrison were replaced by Maggie Steed and Malcolm Sinclair until the Broadway season.

Broadway

The American premiere of the play took place on 23 April 2006 when the same National production opened on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre. Originally scheduled to run through 2 September 2006, the run was extended through to 8 October 2006 following huge public demand after the show won the Tony, New York Critics Circle and other American theatrical awards.

West End

Following its Broadway triumph and second UK tour, the play opened at London's Wyndham's Theatre on 2 January 2007, following previews from 20 December 2006. The production closed on 14 April 2007. A further West End run of the play opened once again at the Wyndham's Theatre on 20 December 2007 running through 26 April 2008.

British National Tours

The first nation tour of the production opened in 2005, continuing to play nine regional venues. A second Britain wide tour began on 31 August 2006 at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, touring to eight further venues. The latest (third) tour launched on 6 September 2007 at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, before continuing to Truro, Cheltenham, Bath, Dublin, Blackpool, Leeds, Cambridge and Eastbourne before culminating in Newcastle on 10 November 2007.

A new national tour co-produced by the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Theatre Royal Bath commenced in early 2010. This was a new production not produced by the National Theatre and directed by Christopher Luscombe. The cast were as follows:

• Headmaster: Thomas Wheatley
• Hector: Gerard Murphy
• Irwin: Ben Lambert
• Mrs. Lintott: Penny Beaumont
• Akthar: Beruce Khan
• Crowther: Tom Reed
• Dakin: Kyle Redmond-Jones
• Lockwood: George Banks
• Posner: James Byng
• Rudge: Peter McGovern
• Scripps: Rob Delaney
• Timms: Christopher Keegan

After a successful run the WYP/Bath Theatre Royal production is being revived for 2011 with the following cast:

• Headmaster: Thomas Wheatley
• Hector: Philip Franks
• Irwin: Ben Lambert
• Mrs. Lintott: Penny Beaumont
• Akthar: Beruce Khan
• Crowther: Michael Lyle
• Dakin: George Banks
• Lockwood: Ryan Saunders
• Posner: Rob Delaney
• Rudge: Peter McGovern
• Scripps: Harry Waller
• Timms: Christopher Keegan

Other productions

• The play had its southwest USA premier at Uptown Players, in Dallas, from 3 April-3 May 2009.
• The first non-professional UK production was staged by Daisy and Rose Theatre Productions at Ermysted's Grammar School in Skipton, North Yorkshire, on 28–30 August 2008.
• The first amateur production of the play (text released by Samuel French, Inc.) was performed at the Pendley Court Thetare, Tring on 19–22 April 2009.
• The play made its Chicago premiere on 25 April 2009, at TimeLine Theatre.
• The play had its amateur debut in Melbourne, Australia, performed at the Cromwell Road Theatre from 18–25 July 2009 and directed Bryce Ives .
• The Netherlands premiere was presented on 1 October 2009 by The Queen's English Theatre Company at the CREA Theater, Amsterdam - featuring an English mother-tongue cast, starring Brian André as Hector and directed by Mark Winstanley. The same production formed the play's premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival in August 2010.
• An Italian adaptation debuted on 19 September 2010 at Teatro ElfoPuccini in Milan. Directors: Elio de Capitani and Ferdinando Bruni. It won the Premio UBU 2011 as best show.
• A Catalan adaptation debuten on 24 September 2008 at Teatre Goya in Barcelona. Director: Josep Maria Pou.
• The Sydney debut will be performed at the Sydney Opera House by the Peach Theatre Company from 8 February – 2 March 2013 and stars John Wood (Australian actor) as Hector, Heather Mitchell as Mrs Linnott, Paul Goddard as Head Master, James Mackay as Irwin, Dakin:Lindsay Farris, Scripps: Aaron Tsindos. Crowther: Simon Brook McLachlan. Lockwood: Caleb Alloway. Arthur: James Elliott. Posner:Matthew Backer. Rudge: Gary Brun. Timms: Matt Hardie and is directed by Jesse Peach.