The History Boys

By Alan Bennett

Directed By Suzy Sampson

6 - 20 May 2023

Company Theatre

Set in a grammar school in Sheffield UK in the 1980s, The History Boys follows the path of seven sixth form pupils as they prepare to take their entrance exams to Oxford and Cambridge Universities led by the eccentric Hector, an ageing teacher who has a unique take on their General Studies course.

However, his teaching is brought into question by a younger, new teacher, Irwin, who has been brought in to make sure that the boys excel in their Oxbridge exams.

Mediating between the two is Mrs. Lintott, a teacher who follows a traditional, need-to-know teaching method.

All three teachers must face their own demons and personal struggles. Together, the boys and their teachers explore issues of gender roles, sexuality, the value of knowledge and historical perception. A fantastic play with universal themes, brilliant scripting, gritty dialogue and a whole lot of entertainment as well.  

Production Crew

Director Suzy Sampson | Production Manager for Company Theatre Kathy Gent | Set Design Sherry Berg, Tricia Hollingham  |  Lighting & Sound Design & Operation Stephen Hood | Properties Vettinia Ross  | Set Crew Sherry Berg (Manager of Set Crew), Stephen Hood, Tricia Hollingham, Suzy Sampson, Kathy Gent, Tony Sandy, Joe Rouse, Andrew Park, Sephen Willson,, Victoria Park, Chris Smith, Freya Said, Jesse Park, Aidan Allen Lucas Laurent, Raine Gilchrist, Aedan Ward, Emre Logan Erdi, Madelaine Park, Jemima Park, Scott Thomas, Brett Marshall, Caroline Parker  | Stage Managers Freya Said Edith Lane | Backstage Crew Emma Arwantis  | Costume Design Suzy Sampson, Katie Finlay, Chris Smith | Dresser Kate Finlay  |  Musical Advisor  Robyn Allen Goudge  |  Poster & Billboard Design Suzy Sampson | Facebook/Instagram/Newsletter Stephen Hood |  Newspaper Advertising Suzy Sampson Kathy Gent | Programme  Sherry Berg  |  Website Sherry Ede | iTicket  Kathy Gent  |  Box Office Kathy Gent, Sarah Dettwiler, Marissa Willson |  Bar Manager Alastair Fletcher | Front of House Manager Lesley Hawkey 

CAST

<b>Duncan Preston<br></b>

Duncan Preston

Hector

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Duncan has been performing with Company since 2020, when he played his first schoolteacher, Gordon Macintosh, in ‘Peninsula’ Since then, he has played Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest at Pah Homestead, another man called Gordon in Neville’s Island and has just finished Jerusalem, where he played Rooster’s loyal friend Ginger. Duncan is looking forward to playing another teacher as it fits in nicely with his day job of being a teacher. Having been born and brought up in Manchester, the accent isn’t too much of a problem either.

<b>Chloe Smith</b>

Chloe Smith

Dorothy Lintott

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Chlöe is a Performing Arts teacher for an Intermediate School in Auckland. Prior to this, she worked behind the scenes at TVNZ for the Breakfast Show. Her passion for drama has seen her land roles in various theatre shows at Rose Centre, Centre Stage and Torbay Theatre. Some of the shows she has performed in include All My Sons, Deathtrap and A Streetcar Named Desire.

She also directs an annual performance on stage at the Aotea Centre for NZ’s biggest student drama show called Showquest.

Chloe is thrilled to play the role of Dorothy Lintott in The History Boys and has thoroughly enjoyed working with the director Suzy and the cast to bring this famous play to the stage.

<b>Chris Smith&nbsp;</b>

Chris Smith 

Headmaster

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Chris’s foray into acting began 3 years ago as he retired from working for the terminally ungrateful. After several classes, being cast as Hopeful Christian, appearing for a year in Auckland’s Bus Stops in a margarine advert, and, more latterly, as The Professor in Jerusalem, he now appears as The Headmaster who he models on several he met during the Bronze Age.

<b>Walt Bowers Fleming&nbsp;</b>

Walt Bowers Fleming 

Irwin

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Walt is passionate about the arts, about creating a story, retelling an experience, and spreading emotion. He has performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Nua Sila and Waiting for Godot. Walt adores the character Irwin, as the morality of certain ethics are brought into question, challenging him to create layers for a character at first appearing straightforward.

<b>Raine Gilchrist</b>

Raine Gilchrist

Posner

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Raine is an actor who has been involved in various theatre classes and groups for several years and played a main role in Geoff Allen’s 2023 Rose Centre play Alien Attack. He is looking to be involved in many productions going forward and branch out more within the performing community. He enjoys performances for the social aspect and being able to showcase his dramatic abilities on stage.   

<b>Lucus Lucent&nbsp;</b>

Lucus Lucent 

Timms

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Lucus is an actor who also enjoys the behind-the-scenes aspects of theatre. He has been apart of performances such as Company Theatre’s The Thrill Of Love and Takapuna Grammar School’s Mamma Mia. He trained with Tim Bray Youth Theatre for a number of years before branching out and focusing on other aspects of the theatre.

<b>Nick Curry&nbsp;</b>

Nick Curry 

Rudge

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Nick is a 24 year old recent graduate of the University of Auckland, where he completed a conjoint degree in Law and Music (specialising in Jazz Voice and Trumpet). In High school, he played lead roles in Sondheim’s Assassins and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This is his first full production since then, where he will be playing the character of Rudge. This coming September, Nick will be relocating to the UK, where he will be pursuing a Masters in Musical Theatre at Guildford School of Acting, and he one day aspires to perform a lead role on the West End.

<b>Emrē Logan Erdi</b>

Emrē Logan Erdi

Akthar

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Emré is a young actor who has been involved in various theatre classes and groups, both in school and out. He achieved Top of Level 3 Drama in Year 12, and has participated in many Shakespeare plays, and Devonport Drama’s 2022 play Alien Track where he played Chuck Cal. He looks to branch out more, both on stage and on the screen and hopes to be an actor someday.

<b>Jesse Park&nbsp;</b>

Jesse Park 

Dakin

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Jesse attends Auckland Grammar and like the boys in the play, is in his final year of school. He has loved being part of the Company Theatre family and found it an honour to work with Suzy, an amazing Director, and such a talented cast and crew. Jesse has enjoyed many years of speech and drama training, attending competitions, and performing in theatre productions Brainstorm (2020), and the combined St Cuthbert’s and AGS show Night with the Stars – A Broadway Revue (2022). A highlight last year was competing in the National Young Performer Awards where he won the Audience Choice Award. Screen acting is another passion, where he’s been cast in a number of projects for film and television. This year he will sit his Trinity diploma and it is his aspiration to continue developing his acting craft and keep performing.

<b>Aidan Allen&nbsp;</b>

Aidan Allen 

Scripps

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Aidan started acting not long after learning to walk and talk; at 3 years old... he was cute, but a silly fool to be frank. He hopes to have learned something about acting since then, and you may compare his ability tonight to a random toddler of your choosing to rank his improvement so far. His background in choral singing set him on the musical theatre path in high school, which he lauds as a “cool and fun time”. Aidan appreciates playing a character that parallels him in some ways, but diverges at interesting points too, and he described the experience as a “symbiotic mind-melding of sorts”.

Aedan Ward 

Lockwood

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Aedan is a seasoned actor who’s performed in a multitude of youth theatre musicals, from Bill in Mamma Mia to Kyle in Legally Blonde The Musical but is now branching into mature productions, including plays. Additionally, he has recently written a full length, professionally produced musical called Golden Screens. He is currently co-assistant directing the project which will be performed at The Rose Centre in July.

Company Theatre

About the Director

Suzy Sampson

Suzy trained at The London Academy of Performing Arts and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, the Stella Adler Academy in New York and TVI Studios in Los Angeles. 

Her one woman show Shakespeare’s Will by Vern Thiessen was awarded Best Production in Hong Kong and has toured Prague, Auckland, Tauranga and Wellington. 

In 2015 Suzy established the highly acclaimed Outdoor Shakespeare in the Bay and produced, directed, and acted in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and As You Like It at Te Puna Quarry. In 2018 she produced and directed Outdoor Oscar Wilde at The Elms Te Papa in Tauranga. Ben Elton’s play Popcorn, which she directed for Company Theatre in 2018, received the ACTT Theatre Awards for Outstanding Comedy. 

Suzy also co-produced and acted in Geoff Allen’s play Sexy Buddha at The Pumphouse, Vic Theatre and Pitt Street Theatre and directed and produced Skylight by David Hare at The Pumphouse in 2020.

History Boys

History-boys - Company Theatre
History-boys - Company Theatre
History-boys - Company Theatre
History-boys - Company Theatre
History-boys - Company Theatre
History-boys - Company Theatre
History-boys - Company Theatre

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