UNITED KINGDOM: Award-winning play 'The History Boys' makes its big screen debut with a Royal premiere

Much-applauded play 'The History Boys' made its silver screen debut with a Royal World premiere in London on Monday (October 2). The play, which has won awards and rave reviews both in London and on Broadway, was adapted to a feature film by writer Alan Bennett. The writer, director Nicholas Hytner and the large cast all walked the red carpet at the film's Leicester Square premiere, also attended by HRH Prince of Wales. The film's young cast said the premiere was a move up from the opening night of the play at the National Theatre two years ago. "Well, we were in the Dorchester (Hotel), we just left the Dorchester and Armani have given us these suits and we were picked up in a lovely car. I think first night at the theatre we drove ourselves there," said actor James Corden. "I got the Tube," fellow actor Andrew Knott quipped. "So that's the difference really. And we flew back from New York yesterday first class. And when we flew out to do the play we were all in economy. So that 's the big difference really," Corden added. The film features the original National Theatre cast, something that Bennett considered essential in capturing the right energy on the screen. "Well, we couldn't really have done it otherwise, really, because we have been together for two years and in a way it made the work half as intensive as it might have been because they were all, could just do huge scenes because they knew the words so well," he said. 'The History Boys' tells the story a group of talented sixth form boys who at the end of their studies set to achieve a place at the prestigious Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Set in Sheffield in the 1980s, the film follows the boys spending the summer preparing for the entrance exams, being inspired by two very different teachers. Hector, played by British actor Richard Griffiths has a fun and unconventional approach, while young substitute teacher Mr Irwin, played by Stephen Cambell Moore, is more result-driven. As much as the story is about growing up and believing in oneself, it also has a more serious theme as it follows the consequences of Hector's unhealthy interest in the boys. Griffiths said the trust between the actors was at the core of their award-winning performances. "It's a technical theatre thing but the ability to trust your fellows is enormously powerful and important on screen and on stage because it means you can push the limits, the possibilities of a scene way past what the author asked for and if the other person is up to speed and goes with you it just makes it more exciting for everybody," he explained. Griffiths and British actress Frances de la Tour were both awarded a Tony for their performances on Broadway. The play also received four other Tony's, including Best Play and Best Director for Nicholas Hytner. The play also received various honours in London whilst showing at the National Theatre. While new West End dates have been confirmed for the touring theatre production, the cast, who only finished the Broadway run a day earlier said they were sad to see an end of a long, close working relationship. "We did our last show on Broadway yesterday in New York and we were devastated. Because not only because you are never going to do the show again but because we are never going to work in this configuration again together and we really, it's a cliché, but we have become a family over two and a half years, we really have," said Samuel Barnett. It was all smiles, however, when the cast and film makers took turns to shake hands and exchange a few words with Prince Charles ahead of the film's world premiere. 'The History Boys' is released in the UK on October 13.

ITN Source | October 5, 2006

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