The 20th anniversary of a modern classic will open its national tour at Malvern Theatres.

Alan Bennett's 'The History Boys' tells the story of eight teenagers striving for a spot at Oxford and Cambridge.

The play will feature Simon Rouse as Hector, Milo Twomey as the headmaster, Gillian Bevan as Mrs Lintott, and Bill Milner as Irwin.

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Archie Christoph-Allen, Lewis Cornay, Teddy Hinde, Yazdan Qafouri, Ned Costello, Mahesh Parmar, Tashinga Bepete, and Curtis Kemlo play the students, with Rowena Bentley, Morgan Phillips, Zrey Sholapurkar, and Jolyon Young in ensemble roles.

Set in the 1980s at Cutlers’ Grammar School in Sheffield, the play begins on A-Level results day, where eight teenagers, with the best grades the school has ever seen, aspire to make it to the best universities in the country.

However, their teachers, including the maverick English teacher Hector, the shrewd supply teacher Irwin, the league-table-obsessed headmaster Felix, and the history teacher Mrs Lintott, cannot agree on how best to tutor them.

The play, which has won over 30 major international awards, originally opened at the National Theatre in 2004 before going on an international tour and being adapted into a film.

The original production starred Richard Griffiths and launched the careers of James Corden, Dominic Cooper, Russell Tovey, and Jamie Parker.

Bennett has been a prominent figure in British theatre for over 50 years, with notable works including The Madness of George III, Talking Heads, and The Lady in the Van.

The creative team for the play includes director Seán Linnen and set and costume designer Grace Smart, among others.

The production will reside at the venue from Tuesday, October 15 to Saturday, October 19.