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The History Boys (Dramatised)
- Narrated by: Richard Griffiths, Clive Merrison, Frances de la Tour
- Length: 2 hrs and 29 mins
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The History Boys (Dramatised)
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Summary
Alan Bennett's award-winning play as heard on BBC Radio 3 features the National Theatre cast. After a sell-out national tour and an extended stage run, Alan Bennett's phenomenally successful play transfers to BBC Radio 3.
Richard Griffiths, Clive Merrison, and Frances de la Tour star as part of the National Theatre cast. At a boys' grammar school in Sheffield, eight boys are being coached for the Oxbridge entrance exams. It is the mid-eighties, and the main concern of the unruly bunch of bright sixth-formers is getting out, starting university and starting life.
At the heart of The History Boys are four characters, each with contrasting outlooks on teaching and school: Hector, an eccentric English teacher with no interest in exams; Irwin, a young supply teacher who sees history as "entertainment"; Mrs. Lintott, a traditionalist, who teaches "history, not histrionics"; and a Headmaster obsessed with results. Described as "the richest play Bennett has ever written" (Financial Times), staff-room rivalry and the anarchy of adolescence collide in an intensely moving and thought-provoking play.
Winner of the Olivier, Evening Standard, Critics' Circle, and South Bank Show Awards for Best New Play.
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Critic reviews
"Intensely moving as well as thought-provoking and funny." (Daily Telegraph)
"Bennett fans can enjoy the clever, dramatic construction and the author's hallmark comedy as the boys and teachers (from the original cast of Nicholas Hytner's National Theatre production) bandy ideas about history, philosophy, poetry, education and sex." (Sunday Times Audio Book of the Week)
What listeners say about The History Boys (Dramatised)
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tylertheviper
- 03-01-18
wish I'd read it when I was at school
If you ever happen to read this - Thank you for writing ( and not being a gentleman farmer )
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- T
- 08-07-13
Great Fun, with a twist
What made the experience of listening to The History Boys (Dramatised) the most enjoyable?
Being narrated by several people
What was one of the most memorable moments of The History Boys (Dramatised)?
The young lad singing
What about the narrators’s performance did you like?
Several narrators added to the range of voices.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes, not one to put down
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- AACCEOB
- 23-12-12
The best book you will ever read
I love this book .I have relistened to it so many times,it catches perfectly teenage boys becoming young men with fantastic humour and great prose.
My 18 yr old son also loves this book
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Simon
- 28-10-17
History boys, Alan Bennett at his very best.
I had the great privilege of playing the part of Irwin once and this audio book helped me with all the lines and embedded my love for the story. it's a shame that Stephen Campbell More couldn't be in this audio book but all the rest of the cast are original. I love this play but what I love even more if that I discover something new and something funny each time I listen to it.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Letsby Ave.
- 21-12-22
Superb
A superb play. A deeper version than the film with a slightly different ending. One of my favourite plays ever.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Will
- 16-11-22
loved it
I've watched the film, read the book and now finished the audiobook. I love it more than any other
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kelly
- 22-09-22
one of my favourite plays, and favourite casts
I've loved this play since I first saw it in the west end many years ago, and I still adore every moment.
Richard Griffiths is of course the (much-missed) star, but the rest of the cast are phenomenal. the likes of Frances de la Tour, Dominic Cooper, Russell Tovey and James Corden are fantastic too naturally, but it is Jamie Parker (Scipps) and Samuel Barnett (Posner) who are always the highlight for me.
The film version still retains more sparkle than the audio drama, but I still laugh and cry at this, and want to re-listen almost immediately.
I do wish Audible would have the cast published on the title page however.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- James C.
- 22-03-16
Sublime Bennett....
Downloaded because I am shortly to perform Irwin at a performance in Halifax next month. It's been an invaluable tool. Have listened to it LOTS!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mei
- 19-07-17
My favourite play
This radio adaptation was beautifully adapted from the original play with very few changes from the script so nothing is lost. Having the original cast, save for Irwin, was the perfect choice as all the actors created their characters and made them each special. I recommend this to anyone and everyone. A magnificent piece of writing.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- F. Pindar
- 09-02-16
Such a good cast!
So good!! This is at least the second time of listening. The cast in the audio recording are the London west end cast... Spook good :)
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