History Boys at the Theatre Royal Brighton Review
History Boys
Theatre Royal, Brighton
9-14 February 2015
Reviewed by Meresa Bergin
History Boys sounded like a mix between Bad Education and a Shakespeare play so I was intrigued to see it and I was not disappointed. The play tells the tale of a class of boys at an all boys school in their final year and readying for college. We are offered marvellous characters such as Hector who is the general studies tutor who loves the boys, maybe a little too much… but in the turn the boys adore him and his quirky way of teaching.
New teacher Irwin arrives to cover the three remaining months of their final year and get them ready for their interviews, the headteacher is desperate to get finally get some of the boys into Oxford! Irwin is young and the boys test him cruelly at first but come to see his wisdom and so we follow a story of love, understanding and heartbreak.
This play is outstanding and standalone, there is nothing else like it. It has the wit of a comedy not lost on fans of shows such as Bad Education as I noted but also those who seek something more, a love story even.
As quoted by Hector in the play “We sometimes read something that is so profoundly us, it is as if they are us and we are not alone, as they reach a hand to us” this play reached its hand to me.
All the actors in this play were remarkable and I cannot fault any but Steven Roberts, whom I have seen in Hollyoaks, his only acting role, and who has never been in professional theatre was something else indeed. He had understanding skill with drawing the audience, his eyes pulled you into his character and could make you both laugh and cry in a blink of an eye. His singing voice at times brought a tear to my eye and a warmth to my soul that I had never experienced before, the end scene drew shivers down my spine. I have not enough praise for this young actor and I have no doubt of how far he will go.
Fan of comedy, love, drama in fact fan of anything, you will love this show. My words cannot do it praise enough you must go see it yourself and fall in love.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £11.90 to £25.40 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).
History Boys is at the Theatre Royal in Brighton until 14 February 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 871 7650.
Theatre Royal. New Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1SD | 0844 871 7650
