Former EastEnders star to direct new History Boys show at the Grand Theatre
A new in-house show will hit the stage at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre next year, it has been announced.
The History Boys will be the third in-house performance since the Grand returned to producing theatre after 40 years in 2017 and will be directed by former EastEnders star Jack Ryder.
The show will tell the tale of the famous film which focuses on an unruly bunch of sixth-form boys in pursuit of love, sport and a place at university as well as a maverick English teacher at odds with the young and shrewd supply teacher and a headmaster obsessed with results.
The History Boys will come to the Grand from February 7 to 22 next year with tickets on sale from later this month.
Ryder starred as Jamie Mitchell in the soap who was memorably killed off on Christmas Day 2002. He joined the cast of Holby City last year.
The actor directed Tim Firth’s The Band, which became the fastest selling tour of all time and also worked on The Full Monty and Calendar Girls theatre shows.
He said; “I’m very excited to begin work on The History Boys. For any director, it is an enormous privilege to direct a play by a writer so prolific as Alan Bennett. I look forward to creating something for the people of Wolverhampton, as well as others, in such a well respected and beautiful theatre.”
Chief executive and artistic director of the Grand, Adrian Jackson, said; “I’m delighted we are able to continue the Grand Theatre’s producing legacy with Alan Bennett’s modern masterpiece. I am equally as thrilled to be working with Jack Ryder to realise a new vision of the play for Wolverhampton. Jack’s previous directorial work, The Full Monty and The Band have been audience favourites here at the Grand Theatre and are placed amongst our most successful productions. I look forward to working with Jack and my very talented team to bring our third in-house production to the stage.”
Tickets go on sale to Friends of the Grand and members on Saturday, June 22 at 10am online and 12pm by phone and at the Box Office. Public bookings open the following Wednesday at 10am online and 12pm by phone and at the Box Office. Tickets can be bought grandtheatre.co.uk, by calling 01902 42 92 12 or in person at the Box Office.
