The History Boys returns to the West End

For the first time in 20 years, Nicholas Hytner’s Olivier and Tony Award-winning production of The History Boys is returning to the West End in 2027.

Alan Bennett’s play was considered one of the best of the 21st Century when it received its world premiere at the National Theatre in 2004. The production went on to huge success, transferring to the West End and Broadway, as well as winning three Olivier Awards and six Tony Awards.

Set against the backdrop of 1980s Britain, The History Boys play tracks the course of eight schoolboys at an all-boys Grammar School in Sheffield, as they navigate sex, school politics and their teachers’ intellectual battle of wills. Poignant, subversive and deeply funny, The History Boys explores sexuality, adolescence and the nature of history, challenging the purpose of education whilst reflecting the changing face of England.

Heading to the Theatre Royal Haymarket for a limited season next year, director Nicholas Hytner (The Standard of Living, GIANT) and designer Bob Crowley (The Standard of Living, GIANT) will reunite to bring this seminal production back to the stage for its planned 16-week engagement.

The cast for the production will be announced in January 2027.

The History Boys will play at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 10 April 2027. Tickets for The History Boys will go on general sale from 9am on Friday 23 October, with 20,000 tickets priced at £25 available throughout the run. Further information can be found here.