The History Boys

The History Boys tickets at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London 2027

Alan Bennett's The History Boys returns to the West End for the first time in 20 years. The original National Theatre production, directed once again by Nicholas Hytner, plays a strictly limited 16 week season at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from Saturday 10 April to Saturday 24 July 2027, with press night on Monday 19 April. This is the Tony and Olivier Award winning play that was loved by a generation, and it is ready to make history all over again.

General sale opens on Friday 23 October 2026, and around 20,000 tickets across the run are priced at £25. Seats are expected to go quickly for a season this short, so save this page and come back to the The History Boys tickets page for dates and prices.

What is The History Boys about?

Set in 1980s England, The History Boys follows eight bright schoolboys at an all boys grammar school in Sheffield as they prepare for the Oxford and Cambridge entrance exams. Along the way they navigate sex, school politics and the intellectual battle of wills between their teachers: the eccentric Hector, who believes learning is for its own sake, and the young supply teacher Irwin, who teaches them to win the argument at any cost. Subversive, poignant and deeply funny, the play explores sexuality, adolescence and the nature of history itself, and asks what education is really for.

It is packed with quotable lines, poetry, songs from the classroom piano and some of the sharpest jokes Bennett has written. Bennett has called it one of the happiest plays he has written, and one of the quickest to set down.

The History Boys cast and creative team

The 2027 West End cast has not been announced yet. The producers say casting will be revealed in January 2027, and we will add every name and role here as soon as it is confirmed. The original 2004 company famously launched the careers of James Corden, Russell Tovey, Dominic Cooper, Jamie Parker and Samuel Barnett, so this new ensemble will be one to watch.

The play is written by Alan Bennett, whose other work includes Talking Heads, The Lady in the Van and The Habit of Art. Nicholas Hytner directs, reuniting with designer Bob Crowley, who designed the original staging. Hytner is the former director of the National Theatre and the director behind One Man, Two Guvnors and The Standard of Living. The production is presented by Brian and Dayna Lee and Nicholas Hytner, with Len Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment. Mark Rubinstein is executive producer.

An award winning modern classic

The History Boys premiered at the National Theatre in 2004 before transferring to the West End and Broadway. It won three Olivier Awards and six Tony Awards, and was made into a film in 2006. Many critics now count it among the defining plays of the 21st century. The West End has not seen it since the 2007 to 2008 run, which makes this season a rare chance to see Hytner's own staging live.

Dates, times and running time

Performances run Monday to Wednesday at 7pm and Thursday to Saturday at 7.30pm, with matinees on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm. The first Saturday matinee is on 17 April and the first Thursday matinee is on 22 April. The expected running time is 2 hours 40 minutes, including a 20 minute interval.

Who is it for?

The play is suggested for ages 12 and over, as it contains strong language and adult themes. It is a natural pick for anyone who loves witty, character led drama, for teachers and students, and for anyone who saw the film and wants to experience it on stage. An audio described performance is scheduled for Wednesday 5 May at 7pm, and a captioned performance is planned for Wednesday 12 May at 7pm, to be confirmed by the venue.

Visiting the Theatre Royal Haymarket

The Theatre Royal Haymarket stands on Haymarket, a few minutes' walk from Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. It is one of London's most historic playhouses, so read our venue guide before you go. Note that there are 65 steps to the Upper Circle and Gallery.

More plays you might enjoy

If you love sharp British drama, see The Standard of Living, One Man, Two Guvnors, Dear England, The Importance of Being Earnest and Witness for the Prosecution. For more Bennett, read about The Habit of Art on tour and the Talking Heads remake.