Talk:The History Boys

Pederasty
I have changed 'paedophilia' to 'pederasty', as paedophilia is typically a love felt towards pre- or early pubescent children, whereas pederasty describes the "relationship and bond between an adolescent boy and an adult man outside of his immediate family". --henryaj 01:34, 15 November 2005 (UTC)


 * I don't see why this play won so many awards and why the play and movie were so acclaimed, it paints gay men in a VERY bad light as being pederasts and into teenage/youth worshipping pedophiles when if you're homosexual you're NOT a pederast and being associated with such things is a horrible myth about being gay that many people think that gay people are into when they're not. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.58.74.161 (talk) 08:16, 11 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Alan Bennett is himself a homosexual. He does not suggest that all homosexuals are paedophiles, merely that one character in the play who may be homosexual (in reality there is no confirmation of such) fondles the genitals of his students. That is not painting homosexuals in either a positive of negative light. --87.102.16.132 (talk) 16:41, 28 January 2009 (UTC)


 * The film does not claim to potray all homosexuality that exists in real life, it merely has some homosexual characters. Of course, pederasty is homosexual; not all homosexual men are pederasts, but some are. Alfred Kinsey (talk) 11:48, 5 June 2009 (UTC)

Fuck the renaissance
Could someone give me the entire text after this quote, it is said by the headmaster to Hector


 * Fuck the Ren-ai-ssance! And fuck literature, and Plato, and Michaelangelo, and Oscar Wilde, and all the other shrunken violets you people line up. This is a school, and it isn't normal!

International productions
I believe there is one in Hebrew in Israel, can anyone verify this?

I noticed it is stated that Bennett wrote the play in 2005. This must be incorrect if it was premiered in 2004. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.240.40.88 (talk) 14:03, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

Plot summary insufficient
Having seen the play the night before last I think that the plot summary given here is insufficient. The issue of the boys' and teachers' sexuality is not mentioned at all and yet it forms a crucial part of the narrative. Instead there is a quasi philosophical reduction of the teachers' different teaching methods. In my view that's an analysis, not a plot summary. (Pedantique, moi ?) This is simply an invitation for someone better qualified than myself to flesh it out a bit, so to speak. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.72.208.113 (talk) 09:13, 21 February 2008 (UTC)


 * I agree that the plot is insufficient. It doesn't even mention Ms. Lintott's views on education Titaan123 (talk) 08:46, 24 May 2022 (UTC)

Hector's 'homosexuality'?
Yes, I realise he fondles his pupils' genitals, but is Hector suppose to be homosexual? I'm not quite sure that's really the point that Bennett was making, I think eccentric rather than homosexual is more approriate. -87.102.16.132 (talk) 16:41, 28 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Well, he's not hetero. Alfred Kinsey (talk) 11:48, 5 June 2009 (UTC)

Date Set
Although it is said to be set in the 'early 80s', Rudge reads the lyrics to "It's a Sin" by the Pet Shop Boys towards the end released in '87, so if you accept that it's set over sixth form, surely it is set in the mid-to-late 80s? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.189.119.210 (talk) 18:28, 15 June 2011 (UTC)

Other Productions
From: The Sydney debut will be performed at the Sydney Opera House by the Peach Theatre Company from 8 February – 2 March 2013 and stars John Wood as Hector, Heather Mitchell as Mrs Linnott, Paul Goddard as Head Master, James Mackay as Irwin, Dakin:Lindsay Farris, Scripps: Aaron Tsindos. Crowther: Simon Brook McLachlan. Lockwood: Caleb Alloway. Arthur: James Elliott. Posner:Matthew Backer. Rudge: Gary Brun. Timms: Matt Hardie and is directed by Jesse Peach.[7]

it appears that the character of Akthar has been rewritten to be caucasion i.e Arthur. Does anyone know why? Whilst Akthar being Muslim wasn't central to the story it seems someone has made the effort to rewrite the character. Was it Political Correctness to not take any chace of upsetting the Muslim Community? I would have thought that Australia, particulary Sydney, would have a talent pool deep enough to provide a suitable Asian actor.

Two other things:-

1) The line above the above extract seems to have a spelling mistake debuten instead of debuted. (Unless that's the spelling in Catalan) 2) What is the difference between a non-professional production and an amateur production? A quick search of Wikipedia and Google does not seem to differentiate. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.103.103.188 (talk) 10:44, 24 September 2013 (UTC)


 * "... spelling mistake debuten ..." - fixed. Mitch Ames (talk) 11:25, 27 September 2013 (UTC)

Amateur v Non Professional performance
In the "Other Productions" section the first amateur production and the first non-professional productions are mentioned:-

"The first non-professional UK production was staged by Daisy and Rose Theatre Productions at Ermysted's Grammar School in Skipton, North Yorkshire, on 28–30 August 2008.

The first amateur production of the play (text released by Samuel French, Inc.) was performed at the St Helens Theatre Royal, on 19-22 August 2009."

Looking up "amateur" on wikipedia gives the following:-

"An amateur (French amateur "lover of", from Old French and ultimately from Latin amatorem nom. amator, "lover") is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science in a non-professional or unpaid manner."

i.e. using "non-professional" in the definition of "amateur"

My question is what is the difference between an amateur production and a non-professional production? I've had a quick look on Google but can find nothing definative. And if there is none should the Daisy & Rose production be called the first amateur/non-professional production and the St Helens entry be removed? It's likely there's a subtle difference of which I'm not aware of and if there is I would be grateful if someone could enlighten me. Brian W