'The History Boys' Is Returning to London's West End for the First Time in 20 Years

Time Out London announced on 22 October 2026 that Alan Bennett's seminal play The History Boys will return to the West End for the first time in roughly 20 years, opening at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 10 April 2027 and running until 24 July 2027. The production is explicitly billed as a 'reworking' rather than a straightforward revival. Original director Nicholas Hytner and designer Bob Crowley are both returning, but the rest of the creative team is expected to be new. No casting has been confirmed yet, though observers anticipate established names in the adult roles and emerging talent as the students. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 23 October 2026. The original 2004 National Theatre production ran for four seasons before transferring to the West End and then Broadway, and launched the careers of actors including Sacha Dhawan and James Corden. The upcoming production marks the play's first West End engagement in two decades.