"The History Boys" by Alan Bennett.

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

This is one of my favourite plays by one of my favourite authors. I love Northern writers, their plays and the whole northern humour, so straight off this was always going to be a winner with me. It's also the 20th Anniversary production of the play and anyone who has seen the play before will spot a few differences.

The play opens in Cutlers' Grammar School, Sheffield, a fictional boys' grammar school. Set in the early 1980s, the play follows a group of history pupils preparing for the Oxford and Cambridge entrance examinations under the guidance of three teachers (Hector, Irwin, and Lintott) with contrasting styles.

This is the only school-play in English drama that is about the process of teaching. Not just about the sexuality or politics of school life but about the daily process of opening up young minds. We get to see the heroic Hector, and the insidious Irwin - the play's intellectual antagonists who just so happen to be in the same boat sexually - at work in the classroom.

The play is also sublimely funny, not least in a scene where Hector improves the boys' French by getting them to impersonate the clients of a bordello, only to be interrupted by a surprised and astonished headmaster.

The original stage play (2004) and film (2006) paved the way to stardom for Matt Smith, Dominic Cooper, Russell Tovey, Jamie Parker, Samuel Barnett and James Corden.

The humour is as sharp as when Bennett wrote the play and the whole 1980’s feel is still very evident from the soundtrack used. What is also still crystal clear is the distinctive light and shade of the story with the repressed but evident, to the boys at least, sexuality in the all boys schooling of the period.

Simon Rouse is Hector, the central character in the play, a beloved teacher who believes that his students should learn literature by heart in order to help them weather life’s difficulties. His teaching style is irreverent and energetic and often has the boys act out scenes or sing songs, and he seems unhampered by the usual school rules. He does not believe that exams are useful.

Milo Twomey as Headmaster of the grammar school where the action of the play takes place, his real name is Felix Armstrong. He is very concerned with sending the boys to Oxford and Cambridge in order to raise the school’s profile. He dislikes Hector’s scattered teaching style, and hires Irwin to make the boys more competitive university applicants. Milo brings a slight Basil Fawlty feel to the character, especially with some of the physicality.

Gillian Bevan is Mrs. Lintott, whose first name is Dorothy but known to the lads as "Totty", is a lower-form history teacher at the grammar school, and the only female character who speaks in the play. There's a lovely played down, matter of fact charisma with Totty, especially when she mentions her first pizza, and other firsts, commenting which was the more memorable.

Bill Milner plays Irwin. A young, recent university graduate who comes to teach history at the school and help prepare the boys for their university entrance exams. Irwin’s philosophy of education is about looking at questions from an unconventional angle in order to appear more interesting to examiners. I love the nervousness with Irwin near the end when he is cornered by Dakin.

The students are played by Archie Christoph-Allen, in his professional stage debut as Dakin. Dakin is charming, manipulative, self-confident, and handsome. This makes him popular at school, and at least three of the male characters in the play are sexually attracted to him. A really confident performance, which is what you need for this character.

Lewis Cornay as Posner, a role a million miles away from being Spongebob Squarepants. One of the most memorable lines from this play comes from Posner when he describes himself and his background. Posner’s journey towards discovering his sexuality figures largely in the play. He feels attracted to Dakin, and doesn’t know what to make of those feelings. Lewis has a really pleasant voice, which we get to hear on a regular basis.

Teddy Hinde as Timms, a funny and confident student who often contributes to the class’s lively banter.

Yazdan Qafouri, who theatre fans may know from being part of "The Band" a few years ago after winning through on the TV talent show "Let It Shine". plays Scripps. Scripps is Dakin’s closest friend, a pianist, and an aspiring writer. He is a devout and practicing Christian, and he says that his parents don’t understand this choice. Scripps delivers a large chunk of the play’s narrative asides to the audience.

Ned Costello plays Rudge,  This is not Ned's first foray into the magic of Alan Bennett as I can remember seeing him in Bennett's "The Clothes They Stood Up In" at the Nottingham Playhouse a few years ago. Rudge is a talented athlete from a working-class background. The teachers all underestimate him, and don’t believe that he has much chance of being accepted to Oxford, but they are in for a surprise! Rudge also delivers one of the other most famous quotes from the play regarding history.

Mahesh Parmar plays Akthar,  and Mahesh is another actor who is no stranger to Nottingham stages as I remember first seeing him seven years ago playing Mowgli in "The Jungle Book" at Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside, directed by Martin Berry.

Tashinga Bepete is Crowther, an aspiring actor and theatre enthusiast; one of the quieter students in the class.

Curtis Kemlo plays Lockwood, a thoughtful student who also participates in the class’s irreverent joking

Rowena Bentley, Morgan Phillips, Zrey Sholapurkar, Elliot Parchment-Morrison, Rob Astillo and Jolyon Young make up the ensemble, many of whom are making their professional stage debuts.

Directed by Seán Linnen, assisted by Emily Oulton. I mentioned that this production is slightly different, so even if you've seen a production of this show previously, this one has slight differences. Everything about this show has pace, especially the scene changes, which are carried out, often at breakneck speed, by the cast members.

The whole cast actually look like they belong in school, which straight away locks in the characters to the school setting. 

The Set and Costume Design is by Grace Smart. The main set is a back to back class room and exterior setting with desks, tables and chairs, plus the piano that Scripps plays.

Lighting Designer is Ryan Day and Movement Director is Chi-San Howard. 

Composer, Arranger & Sound Designer is Russell Ditchfield with the  Musical Director being Eamonn O’Dwyer. With the play being set in the 1980's we get to hear some classic 80's bangers in shortened, instrumental offerings of the original arrangements. 

What is also lovely, as well as different to some of the other productions of this show, is the amount of acapella work the cast perform. We start off with acapella, and there's also a wonderful acapella version of Adam & the Ants "Stand And Deliver" to open the second act, completely unexpected, and then there is the final version of "Bye Bye Blackbird" which always sends a cold chill down your backbone.

Any theatre goer cannot fail to be touched - if that is the right word in this context - by this brilliant Bennett blockbuster, and especially this cast. It is warm, funny and has balls, so if you can fit this show into your timetable, you will not be disappointed.

"The History Boys"  will be at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 14 September, and don't arrive late or you better have a note!