Review: The History Boys, The Old Red Lion Theatre

(Photo Credit: Miranda Mazzarella - @miranda_shoots_photos)

A grammar school in nineteen eighties England. Headmaster Felix is on the warpath, determined to raise the status of the school by getting an entire class of boys accepted to Oxford or Cambridge University. However, there is a problem in the form of a widely respected English teacher who doesn’t believe in the formal way of doing things. With the arrival of a recently graduated History teacher from Cambridge, there is hope for change. And the boys? They’re caught in the middle…

This play, written by Alan Bennett, opened in two thousand and four at the National Theatre, to great success. There have been many productions of the show since, including a broadway transfer in two thousand and six and a film adaptation in that same year. The current Off-West End revival at The Old Red Lion Theatre marks the London debut of the Australian performance company, Glassroom Company. 

As with any revival, it's not possible to comment on the writing in the same way as a new play as it is pre-existing. However, this is part of what can make a revival so compelling and interesting: how the story is conveyed in a different way to display new possibilities. 

Miranda Cattermole’s set and costume designs give this show a timeless but easily recognisable quality. With its sparse but layered set, the costumes stand out in particular as having a classic, preppy quality, with a touch of natural imperfection as per character. We understand the formality of the setting and we become intrigued by what could break it. 

(Photo Credit: Miranda Mazzarella - @miranda_shoots_photos)

Having had very limited interactions with the material in the past, I went in relatively blind but intrigued. I was not disappointed. 

Florence Carr-Jones’s direction is a lesson in holding the audience’s attention. Her direction is expertly paced, unafraid of moments of silence amidst the otherwise frenetic energy of a typical secondary school class; the passage of time is felt without importance because what matters is in the details. 

She understands the universality of the script and how to exploit it to show that it is still relevant. How weird of a period of time that transition between school and university is, with the exploration of personal and sexual identities. Trying things out for the first time, still unsure about how it’s going to go, what’s going on or what to do next. Her direction is decisive and sure, which allows these characters not to be.

In turn, this exacerbates the conflict of the character of Hector, played by Duncan Hess. We completely understand why the boys love this teacher, which makes the twist even more crushing. Inexcusable and disturbing actions contained within the guise of a cinnamon roll. Hess really challenges us in his portrayal, making him absolutely perfect for the role. 

(Photo Credit: Miranda Mazzarella - @miranda_shoots_photos)

Joshua Hogan is an exceptionally gifted music talent in addition to his gripping performance in the role of Scripps.  Leonardo Shaw manages to make us come round to Irwin’s decidedly irritating and morally ambiguous perspective, a testament to how strong of a performer he is. The casting of this show couldn’t be better. 

A revival worthy of a longer run, Glassroom company has definitely earned a place amongst the best in Off-West End Theatre. Top marks!

***** Five stars 

Age rating: Fourteen plus.

Content Warnings: Haze, Smoking, Flashing lights, loud noises (including school bells), references to sexual assault against minors, physical violence against minors, reference to a funeral, reference to a vehicle accident, strong language, racist, sexist and homophobic language, death and grief. 

For more information about the sold-out run at The Old Red Lion: https://weareoldred.co.uk/whats-on/the-history-boys/