The Grand Theatre is delighted to announce the return of the nation’s favourite play to Blackpool!

Sell a Door Theatre who recently brought Tony-Award winning Avenue Q to The Grand is now returning with THE HISTORY BOYS, the critically acclaimed and best-loved play by Alan Bennett. The History Boys will perform at The Grand Theatre Blackpool from Tuesday 14 to Saturday 18 April 2015.

To celebrate the return of this popular drama, English Touring Theatre will also be giving away 200 FREE TICKETS for first-time theatregoers across the tour!

Winner of over 30 major awards including the Olivier and Tony Awards for Best New Play, The History Boys is the story of a group of bright, funny and unruly sixth-formers in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university. Their maverick English teacher is at odds with the young and shrewd supply teacher, whilst their headmaster is obsessed with results and league tables. Staffroom rivalry and the anarchy of adolescence overflow, provoking insistent questions about history and how you teach it. Their A Levels may be over, but their true education is only just beginning. Widely hailed as on of the greatest theatrical events of the last decade, The History Boys is a hilariously funny and exceptionally moving play about the true purpose of education.

Alan Bennett’s comic masterpiece was voted the nations favourite play in a recent national survey conducted by English Touring Theatre to celebrate their 21st birthday. English Touring Theatre are delighted to be able to support the winning play by giving away 100 pairs of free tickets to The History Boys throughout the 2015 tour. As part of their commitment to growing audiences and increasing access to regional theatre, applications are open to anyone who has never attended their local theatre before. For more information on how to apply, visit www.ett.org.uk.

The History Boys premièred at the National Theatre in 2004 directed by Nicholas Hytner, and helped launch the careers of many of its original cast members including James Corden and Dominic Cooper. It went on to open on Broadway in 2006, with a film adaptation featuring the original stage cast released later that year. The History Boys also had two successful West End runs, playing at the Wyndham’s Theatre in 2007 and 2008, and has won countless awards including the Oliver Award for Best New Play, Tony Award for Best Play, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play and Evening Standard Award for Best Play.

Alan Bennett is one of the UK’s most celebrated playwrights and authors, and in a career that spans five decades has created many acclaimed works for theatre, television and film. His work for the stage includes People, Hymn and Cocktail Sticks, The Habit of Art, Talking Heads, The Madness of George III and Kafka’s Dick. Prior to his work as a playwright, Bennett enjoyed enormous success as a co-writer and performer of Beyond the Fringe, a comedy stage revue which played in the West End and on Broadway in the 1960s. At the 2005 Olivier Awards Bennett was awarded the Society Special Award for his contribution to theatre.

This brand new production for 2015 is presented by Sell a Door Theatre, whose recent productions include Avenue Q (2014 UK Tour), Spring Awakening (2011 UK Tour) and Seussical (West End).

The History Boys will be directed by Kate Saxon, whose credits include God of Carnage (Royal & Derngate), Persuasion (Salisbury Playhouse), The Real Thing (English Touring Theatre) and French Lieutenant’s Woman (UK Tour). Kate was also Associate Director at Shared Experience from 2000-2012.

David Hutchinson, Artistic Director of Sell a Door Theatre said today: “We are delighted to be launching our 2015 season with the UK revival tour of the nation’s favourite play by one of Britain’s most cherished playwrights.

Casting is to be announced.

For further press information, images, tickets and interviews please contact marketing@blackpoolgrand.co.uk or call 01253 290111.