The History Boys

Adapted by Alan Bennett from his own hugely successful stage play, 'The History Boys' follows a group of students in their final year of school trying to get into the Oxbridge colleges. They're aided by supportive teachers Hector (Griffiths) and the young new recruit Irwin (Moore) but hindered by their own doubts and fears about their abilities, not to mention personal struggles with things like class and sexuality. Then of course there are Hector's potentially unhealthy advances, not something that bothers the boys so much as the authorities. 'The History Boys' is a warm, witty and poignant drama about the value of education that also happens to be full of some uproarious laughs and wonderful performances. Some of the boys are stronger than others, with one or two maybe still thinking they're on stage, although Barnett stands out as the tormented Posner. Griffiths though, is just spellbinding in a heartbreaking portrayal of a man who lives to share his knowledge. Having already won every award going in theatre land, he'll be very unlucky if he doesn't end up with an Oscar nomination. [Paul Greenwood]