Alan Bennett’s multi award winning play The History Boys finally arrived at Hall For Cornwall in September – and it was worth the wait.

Set in Thatcher’s Britain, the play follows the trials and tribulations of an unruly bunch of teenage boys in a fictional public school ‘somewhere up North'. Coming to terms with their burgeoning sexuality and imminent ascent into adulthood, the eight pupils attempt to gain university places at Oxford and Cambridge. Adding to their problems are a headmaster driven by results and league tables, and a lovable English teacher (Hector, played by Desmond Barrit) who tries to teach the boys about life itself whilst competing with the new, young supply teacher (Irwin, played by Tim Delap) for their attentions.

The Boys themselves are led by the handsome Dakin (Andrew Hawley) who is adored by everyone, including the school secretary with whom he spends many happy hours behind the bike shed. Another of his devotees is classmate Posner (Daniel Fine), plagued by a multitude of tangled emotions – being fantastically clever is welcomed in his Jewish family; being gay is most certainly not.

Clever set changes were carried out in darkness, whilst the audience enjoyed black and white film played out to a fabulous soundtrack of 1980s chart hits.

The History Boys is laugh-out-loud comedy peppered with the pathos that the wonderful Bennett does so well. The talent on stage was undeniable – a terrific cast who clearly revelled in their work, allowing the packed theatre the savour every line.

A triumph from start to finish, The History Boys is a fine example of British Theatre at its very best. (Sheila Vanloo)