Matthew Kelly to Star in Sheffield's THE HISTORY BOYS from May 16

According to the Dail Mail, Matthew Kelly will lead the Sheffield Theatres' production of Alan Bennett's The History Boys as 'Hector'. The show is directed by Michael Longhurst (Constellations, Royal Court and Duke of York's Theatre), with performances set to begin on May 16, 2013.

Read the original report here.

Kelly, who won an Olivier award for his performance in Of Mice And Men in 2004 at the Savoy Theatre, first worked as a TV presenter and appeared on You Bet! and Stars in Their Eyes, among other shows and sitcoms. His other theatre work includes Mirandolina at the Royal Exchange Theatre in 2006, Amadeus, Out For Justice in Australia, May in 2008-2009, Arcola's Victory: Choices in Reaction, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at Lichfield Garrick Theatre, which transferred to Trafalgar Studios, Trolius and Cressida at The Globe in London, Comedians at Hammersmith Lyric in 2009, Waiting For Godot at Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2010 with Ian McKellen, then the same show in Melbourne that year, among many other roles.

The History Boys is a comedy set in the 1980s in Cutlers' Grammar School, a fictional boys' grammar school in Sheffield, England. The focus is on an unruly bunch of bright, funny boys who are studying for their entrance examinations in history for Oxford and Cambridge under the guidance of three teachers - Hector, Irwin and Mrs. Lintott - all of whom have contrasting styles. Hector, an eccentric teacher, delights in knowledge for its own sake, but the headmaster ambitiously wants the school to move up the academic league table; Irwin is hired to introduce a rather more cynical and ruthless style of teaching.

The play premiered at The National Theatre's Lyttelton Theatre in London in May 2004 and played to sold-out audiences for an extended run after which it premiered on Broadway in April 2006. It has received more than 30 major awards, including Britain's Olivier Award for Best New Play and six Tony Awards, including Best Play.

For full details of Sheffield's new season and to book tickets, call the Box Office on 0114 249 6000 or visit sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.

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