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The History Boys (Dramatised) cover art

The History Boys (Dramatised)

By: Alan Bennett
Narrated by: Richard Griffiths, Clive Merrison, Frances de la Tour
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Summary

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.

©2005 Alan Bennett (P)2006 BBC Audiobooks Ltd.

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)

What listeners say about The History Boys (Dramatised)

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

History boys, Alan Bennett at his very best.

I had the great privilege of playing the part of Irwin once and this audio book helped me with all the lines and embedded my love for the story. it's a shame that Stephen Campbell More couldn't be in this audio book but all the rest of the cast are original. I love this play but what I love even more if that I discover something new and something funny each time I listen to it.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

one of my favourite plays, and favourite casts

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.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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My favourite play

This radio adaptation was beautifully adapted from the original play with very few changes from the script so nothing is lost. Having the original cast, save for Irwin, was the perfect choice as all the actors created their characters and made them each special. I recommend this to anyone and everyone. A magnificent piece of writing.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Recommend unfortunately

Understand the sentiment just not my kind of listening entertainment. Typical of Alan Bennett. Life in the raw

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superb

A superb play. A deeper version than the film with a slightly different ending. One of my favourite plays ever.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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loved it

I've watched the film, read the book and now finished the audiobook. I love it more than any other

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of the moment though rooted in the past.

I enjoyed the listen and revelled in the lives of all the boys. The master (Bennett) is a triumph when societal commentary is at the core. The faces and mannerisms were clear as a frozen winter stream.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Confusing part way through

This audio doesn't make sense.
One moment they're in the school
Next moment, one teacher's in a wheelchair in a ruin doing something for TV and then some previous schoolboy, Posner comes up and does what exactly? Tries to record him in secret..... so I guess we are in the future?
Next moment we are back in the school again and the plot continues as before - what are we to make of that?
Well, I assumed there was something wrong with the audio recording, as no other review mentions this jumble-tumble of time travel at all.
Totally confusing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great performance

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

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant

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

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