The History Boys returns to the West End after 20 years with 20,000 tickets at £25

Alan Bennett's The History Boys is coming back to the West End for the first time in 20 years, and tickets go on general sale tomorrow, Friday 23 October, at 9am. A total of 20,000 tickets will be available at £25, so anyone hoping to catch the revival at a bargain price will want to be ready when booking opens.

The National Theatre production will play the Theatre Royal Haymarket, with previews from 10 April 2027 and a run until 24 July 2027. Casting is due to be announced in January 2027. Find out more about the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

Why is this play such a big deal?

The History Boys premiered at the National Theatre in 2004 before transferring to the West End and Broadway, and it became one of the most decorated plays of its time. In London it won three Olivier Awards in 2005: Best New Play, Best Actor for Richard Griffiths and Best Director for Nicholas Hytner.

On Broadway it went on to win six Tony Awards in 2006, including Best Play. Griffiths won Best Leading Actor, Frances de la Tour won Best Featured Actress and Hytner won Best Direction, while designer Bob Crowley and lighting designer Mark Henderson also took home prizes.

What is it about?

Set in 1980s Britain, the play follows eight pupils at a boys' grammar school in Sheffield as they prepare for their university entrance exams. Through their relationships with their teachers, it explores education, class, sexuality and growing up, with the wit and warmth that have made it one of the most quoted modern British plays.

Who is making the revival?

Hytner returns to direct, reuniting with Bennett and with Crowley, who designed the original. Speaking about the return, Hytner said: "More than 20 years after it opened, it's the right time to be bringing this great and much loved play back to the London stage. I can't wait to take another look at it, and to introduce it to a new generation of theatre goers."

He added that his collaboration with Bennett "has been central to my creative life, and it's a delight to be back in the theatre with him again."

Bennett said: "The History Boys is one of the happiest plays I've written. Or rather, it was one of the happiest of my plays to write." He went on: "The play is full of quotes and has itself become eminently quotable. A joy for any playwright. I welcome its return under Nicholas Hytner."

Who is producing it?

The revival is produced by Brian Lee, Dayna Lee and Hytner, who previously worked together on Giant and The Standard of Living, alongside Len Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment. Mark Rubinstein is executive producer, with general management by Short Street Productions.

The Lees said the original production had been a landmark moment for contemporary British theatre, and that Bennett's exploration of institutional culture, class and education felt as timely as ever.

When can I book?

General sale opens at 9am on Friday 23 October 2026, with 20,000 tickets at £25 across the run. Previews begin on 10 April 2027 and the play runs until 24 July 2027, with the full cast still to be revealed in the new year.

Header image: official artwork