The History Boys is a play by British playwright Alan Bennett

Alan Bennett

Alan Bennett is a British playwright, screenwriter, actor and author. Born in Leeds, he attended Oxford University where he studied history and performed with The Oxford Revue. He stayed to teach and research mediaeval history at the university for several years...

. The play premiered at the Lyttelton Theatre

Royal National Theatre

The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...

 in London on 18 May 2004. Its Broadway debut was on 23 April 2006 at the Broadhurst Theatre

Broadhurst Theatre

The Broadhurst Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 235 West 44th Street in midtown Manhattan.It was designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp, a well-known theatre designer who had been working directly with the Shubert brothers; the Broadhurst opened 27 September 1917...

 where there were 185 performances staged before it closed on 1 October 2006.

The play won multiple awards, including the 2005 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play and the 2006 Tony Award for Best Play

• Headmaster (Felix Armstrong) - Headmaster of Cutlers' Grammar School, Sheffield
• Douglas Hector - English/General Studies teacher
• Tom Irwin - History teacher; brought in as a special coach
• Mrs Dorothy Lintott - History teacher
• Akthar - Pupil; of Asian ancestry, Muslim
• Crowther - Pupil; does acting as a hobby
• Stuart Dakin - Pupil; handsome, object of Posner's and Irwin's affection
• James Lockwood - Pupil; strong opinions
• David Posner - Pupil; youngest, gay and Jewish
• Rudge - Pupil; better known for athletic skills than for intelligence
• Donald Scripps - Pupil; Anglican, plays piano
• Timms - Pupil; overweight
• Director on Irwin's television programme (a small role)

Irwin is said to be modelled after Niall Ferguson

Niall Ferguson

Niall Campbell Douglas Ferguson is a British historian. His specialty is financial and economic history, particularly hyperinflation and the bond markets, as well as the history of colonialism.....

.

The play includes several non-speaking roles:

• Make-Up Woman, Production team - on Irwin's television show
• Three or four unidentified MPs - spoken to by Irwin in opening scene
• Other male pupils (optional, can help with scene changes and/or play piano if the actor cast as Scripps cannot)
• Fiona - Headmaster's secretary; object of Dakin's affection/lust.