The History Boys (Dramatised)

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The History Boys (Dramatised)

By: Alan Bennett

Narrated by: Richard Griffiths, Clive Merrison, Frances de la Tour

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About this listen

Alan Bennett's award-winning play as heard on BBC Radio 3 features the National Theatre cast. After a sell-out national tour and an extended stage run, Alan Bennett's phenomenally successful play transfers to BBC Radio 3.

Richard Griffiths, Clive Merrison, and Frances de la Tour star as part of the National Theatre cast. At a boys' grammar school in Sheffield, eight boys are being coached for the Oxbridge entrance exams. It is the mid-eighties, and the main concern of the unruly bunch of bright sixth-formers is getting out, starting university and starting life.

At the heart of The History Boys are four characters, each with contrasting outlooks on teaching and school: Hector, an eccentric English teacher with no interest in exams; Irwin, a young supply teacher who sees history as "entertainment"; Mrs. Lintott, a traditionalist, who teaches "history, not histrionics"; and a Headmaster obsessed with results. Described as "the richest play Bennett has ever written" (Financial Times), staff-room rivalry and the anarchy of adolescence collide in an intensely moving and thought-provoking play.

Winner of the Olivier, Evening Standard, Critics' Circle, and South Bank Show Awards for Best New Play.

Drama & Plays

Entertainment & Performing Arts

European

Film & TV

Literature & Fiction

World Literature

Theatre

Entertainment

Funny

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Critic reviews

"A superb, life-enhancing play." (Guardian)
"Intensely moving as well as thought-provoking and funny." (Daily Telegraph)
"Bennett fans can enjoy the clever, dramatic construction and the author's hallmark comedy as the boys and teachers (from the original cast of Nicholas Hytner's National Theatre production) bandy ideas about history, philosophy, poetry, education and sex." (Sunday Times Audio Book of the Week)

Most relevant

This has been adapted really well as a radio production especially as it features the original cast from the theatre production.

Brilliant

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Loved it! Saw the film first so was able to picture the performers. Highlly recommended.

Great performance

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So good!! This is at least the second time of listening. The cast in the audio recording are the London west end cast... Spook good :)

Such a good cast!

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I've loved this play since I first saw it in the west end many years ago, and I still adore every moment.
Richard Griffiths is of course the (much-missed) star, but the rest of the cast are phenomenal. the likes of Frances de la Tour, Dominic Cooper, Russell Tovey and James Corden are fantastic too naturally, but it is Jamie Parker (Scipps) and Samuel Barnett (Posner) who are always the highlight for me.
The film version still retains more sparkle than the audio drama, but I still laugh and cry at this, and want to re-listen almost immediately.
I do wish Audible would have the cast published on the title page however.

one of my favourite plays, and favourite casts

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What made the experience of listening to The History Boys (Dramatised) the most enjoyable?

Being narrated by several people

What was one of the most memorable moments of The History Boys (Dramatised)?

The young lad singing

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Several narrators added to the range of voices.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, not one to put down

Great Fun, with a twist

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