The History Boys to Tour the UK, Beginning 8/31

The History Boys, Alan Bennett's hit on both sides of the Atlantic, will begin a national UK tour on August 31st.

The show, which was a long-running hit at The National Theatre, will tour the UK for 11 weeks.  Anton Rodgers, who has been featured in several productions at the National, will play the role of unconventional boys' prep school teacher Hector, originated in London and on Broadway by Tony Award-winner Richard Griffiths.  Simon Cox will redirect the tour; Nicholas Hytner won a Tony for his original direction.

Currently running on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre, where it opened on April 23rd, The History Boys won six of its seven Tony nominations. In addition to Best Play, it won Best Director of a Play (Hytner), Best Leading Actor in a Play (Griffiths), Best Featured Actress in a Play (Frances de la Tour), Best Set Design of a Play (Bob Crowley), and Best Lighting Design of a Play (Mark Henderson). The play has won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, Olivier, Evening Standard and London Critics' Circle Awards for Best Play.

"An unruly bunch of bright, funny sixth-form boys in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university. A maverick English teacher at odds with the young and shrewd supply teacher. A headmaster obsessed with results and a history teacher who thinks he's a fool. Alan Bennett's The History Boys is about staffroom rivalry, the anarchy of adolescence and the purpose of education," according to press notes.

The History Boys has also been seen in a hit international tour that played Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. 

Griffiths, de la Tour and Clive Merrison are currently taking breaks from their roles in the Broadway production.  Desmond Barrit fills in for Griffiths through July 23rd, while Maggie Steed plays de la Tour's role through August 20th and Malcolm Sinclair is in for Merrison through August 20th, as well.

Visit www.historyboysonbroadway.com for more information on the Broadway production.